UC-NRLF 


B    3    bES    D7fl 


1 


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CORRECTIONS. 

Page  14,  line  15  should  read:      1837.     First  white  child  born  on  the 
Northwest  Coast  was  Alice  Whitman  of  Waiilatpu,  Eliza  Spald- 
ing being  the  first  in  Idaho. 

Page  21,  line  12,  should  read:  1866.  First  session  of  the  Supreme 
Court  of  Idaho  was  held  at  Boise  with  Hon.  John  R.  McBride 
chief  justice. 

Page  58,  line  18,  should  read:  Eiver  (q.  v.),  where  he  wintered,  leav- 
ing there  April  1,  1835,  and  going  east  by  way  of  Green  River, 
etc. 

Page  67,  line  37, 'should  read:  FRANKLIN. — Named  for  the  town  of 
Franklin,  which  was  named  for  Franklin  R.  Richards,  the  lead- 
er of  the  thirteen  Mormon  families  that  settled  the  place  in  1860. 
The  county  seat  is  Preston,  named  for  W.  B.  Preston  an  early 
settler  in  and  prominent  Mormon  of  Cache  valley. 

Page  71,  line  23,  insert:  ELK. — At  the  age  of  six  months  two  only, 
ivory  teeth,  the  upper  canines,  appear  in  an  elk  calf's  mouth 
which  at  eighteen  months  becomes  a  hollow  and  pointed  tusk 
that  gradually  fills  up  and  becomes  a  pear  shaped  solid  by  the 
time  the  elk  reaches  the  age  of  three  years.  At  five  these  tusks 
are  matured  and  fully  developed  after  which  they  deteriorate 
and  by  the  time  the  animal  reaches  the  age  of  ten  are  usually 
worn  away.  Their  other  teeth  are  simply  plain  dentine.  These 
two  teeth  or  tusks  are  used  by  the  elk  in  a  grinding  action 
to  make  a  clinking  sound  which  is  the  animals  method  of  ex- 
pressing anger  or  hostility.  The  elk  teeth  were  the  Indian 
woman's  most  costly  ornament,  being  fastened,  by  hundreds,  in 
rows  on  her  tunic,  ofttimes  giving  the  garment  a  value  of  several 
thousand  dollars  and  no  squaw  of  great  note  was  buried  without 
being  dressed  in  the  highly  colored  and  decorated  elk  tooth 
jacket. — LEEK,  Outdoor  life,  December,  1918. 

Page  111,  insert:  SHOSHONI  LANGUAGE.— There  are  many  Aztec 
elements  in  the  Shoshoni  language.  Some  words  are  identical, 
others  very  similar.  Aztec  grammatical  rules  and  Shoshoni 
idioms  are  very  striking.  The  Northwest  might  have  been,  at 
one  time,  occupied  by  the  Aztecs  for  these  analogies  point  to  a 
primeval  center  from  which  these  aboriginal  languages  scattered. 
The  Shoshoni  language  was  talked  and  understood  by  all  the 
tribes  from  the  Rocky  Mountains  to  California  and  from  the 
Colorado  to  the  Columbia,  and  bv  a  few  in  manv  tribes  outside 
of  these  limits.— STUART,  Montana  As  It  Is. 

Page  111,  insert:  SHOUP,  Lemhi,  County. — Named  for  Hon.  George 
L.  Shoup  who  was  born  in  Armstrong  County,  Pennsyvania, 
June  15,  1836;  educated  in  the  public  schools;  Colonel  Third  Colo- 
rado cavalry  at  the  battle  of  Sand  Creek,  Colo,  in  1864;  moved  to 
Idaho,  1866;  engaged  in  stock,  mining  and  mercantile  business; 
was  last  territorial  and  first  state  governor  of  Idaho,  1890;  U. 
S.  senator  for  Idaho,  1891-1901;  died,  1904;  statue,  sculptured 
by  Frederick  E.  Triebell,  placed  in  Statuary  Hall,  Washington, 
D.  C,  1909.  It  was  near  this  place  which  Captain  Clark  reached 
on   August   23,   1805. — Proceedings  in   Congress. 


IDAHO 


CHRONOLOGY,  NOMENCLATURE 

BIBLIOGRAPHY 


BY 

JOHN  E.  REES,  B.  Sc, 

Member  of  the 

AMERICAN    HISTORICAL   ASSOCIATION,    OREGON    HISTORICAL    SOCIETY,    WASHING- 
TON   UNIVERSITY    STATE    HISTORICAL    SOCIETY.    HISTORICAL    SOCIETY 
OF    IDAHO    PIONEERS,    AND    LEMHI    HISTORICAL    SOCIETY 


Price  of  this  Book,  Postpaid,  $1.25 

Address 
JOHN  E.  REES,  Salmon,  Idaho 

■ 


»  I  .  .    . 


CHICAGO 

W.  B.  CONKEY   COMPANY 
1918 


\ 


<\ 


Copyright  1918 

BY 

W.  B.  CONKEY  COMPANY 


•   '  •  • 


PREFACE 

MY  only  apology  for  writing  this  book  is  the  desire  to  compile  some 
scattered  fragments  of  knowledge  into  a  more  compact  form  for 
the  purpose  of  aiding  the  study  of  the  history  of  Idaho.  While 
there  is  considerable  literature  written,  yet  it  is  embodied  in  so  many 
books,  pamphlets  and  periodicals  that  a  great  amount  of  trouble  is 
required  and  expense  incurred  to  search  out  desired  dates,  data  and 
information.  Neither  do  I  claim  much  originality  in  the  preparation  of 
this  work  other  than  the  plan  of  collecting  and  compiling  the  efforts  of 
others. 

Three  elements  are  necessary  for  the  establishment  of  an  historical 
fact,  namely,  time,  place  and  incident.  The  absence  of  either  element 
may  make  romance  or  fiction,  but  not  history. 

The  first  section  is  a  chronological  table  of  important  events  in  the 
history  of  Idaho,  and  while  the  data,  in  some  instances,  is  approximate 
rather  than  absolute,  it  is  published  merely  as  a  beginning,  which  in  time 
should  be  corrected  until  the  events  in  Idaho's  history  are  chronicled  as 
historically  accurate. 

The  second  section,  that  of  nomenclature,  is  published  for  the  purpose 
of  awakening  an  interest  in  geographical  lore  and  historical  antiquity  to 
the  end  that  efforts  will  be  made  by  others  to  preserve  and  perpetuate  the 
origin  and  reason  for  our  State  names. 

The  third  section  is  a  bibliography  of  Idaho  history  such  as  has  been 
used  in  the  compilation  of  this  work,  and  credit  is  given  to  such  writers 
furnishing  the  chief  thought  for  each  heading,  which  acknowledgment 
immediately  follows  the  article. 

It  is  expected  that  this  book  will  aid  teachers  in  their  work,  help 
students  in  their  research  and  become  a  handy  reference  for  the  general 
reader.  If  such  results  are  achieved,  then  the  purpose  for  which  this 
effort  was  made  will  have  been  attained  bv  The  Author. 

Salmon,  Idaho,  191S. 


418815 


CONTENTS 

PAGE 

Preface     5 

Idaho — Poem 8 

Idaho  Chronology 9 

Northwest  Coast 9 

Oregon  Territory 15 

Washington  Territory 16 

Idaho  Territory       . 18 

State  of  Idaho 28 

Idaho — Its  Meaning,  Origin  and  Application 4<; 

Idaho  Nomenclature 52 

Idaho  Bibliography 11!» 


IDAHO 

Let  others  sigh  of  orange  groves, 

Where  warmer  sunbeams  shine, 
The  lofty  mountains  freedom  loves, 

And  freedom's  choice  is  mine. 
I  sigh  not  for  a  southern  clime 

Where  tropic  roses  blow; 
Give  me  the  pine-clad  hills  sublime, 

The  hills  of  Idaho. 

Here  many  a  crystal  streamlet  clear 

Flows  from  its  mountain  home, 
And  on  its  banks  the  peaceful  deer 

Are  free,  and  fearless  roam ; 
And  beautiful  in  evening  still 

To  mark  the  sunset  glow 
Rest  on  some  distant  snow-crowned  hill 

That  towers  in  Idaho. 

Though  commerce  rears  no  city  proud, 

Though  wealth  has  here  no  shrine. 
Though  fashion  draws  no  servile  crowd, 

A  prouder  boast  is  thine. 
Thy  sons  are  fearless,  free  and  bold, 

Thy  daughters  pure  as  snow, 
For  honor,  truth  and  beauty  hold 

The  homes  of  Idaho. 

And  I  do  love  thee,  mountain  land, 

Though  not  a  son  of  thine. 
For  me  thy  scenes  have  something  grand 

In  every  rugged  line. 
For  I  was  born  among  the  hills, 

And  reared  where  tempests  blow. 
And  thus  my  soul  with  rapture  thrills 

To  hail  thee,  Idaho. 

0  may  thy  children  ever  be 

To  one  another  true, 
And  blessed  with  peace  and  harmony, 

Their  upward  path  pursue, 
Till,  linked  unto  thy  sister  States, 

Thy  star  with  theirs  shall  glow, 
And  tell  what  glory  yet  awaits 

The  youthful  Idaho. 

— Cameron  McDonald. 


8 


.     . 


1    > 


>  , 


IDAHO  CHRONOLOGY 

NORTHWEST    COAST 
1492-1846 

The  Northwest  Coast  included  all  territory  lying  between  42°  and  54°  40' 
north  latitude  and  west  of  the  Rocky  Mountains.  It  contained  all 
of  Oregon,  Washington  and  Idaho  and  parts  of  British  Columbia, 
Montana  and  Wyoming. 

1492  Discovery  of  the  western  continent  by  Christopher  Columbus,  a 
Spanish  navigator,  who,  believing  the  earth  round,  expected  to 
reach  the  Asiatic  Coast  by  sailing  westward  across  the  Atlantic. 

1507  America  named  in  honor  of  Americus  Vespucius,  an  Italian  navi- 
gator, who  had  explored  part  of  the  South  Anierican  Coast;  this 
designation   first   appearing  in  Waldseemuller's   Cosmography. 

1513  Discovery  of  the  Pacific  Ocean  by  Nunez  de  Balboa,  a  Spanish 
explorer,  who  crossed  the  Isthmus  of  Panama  on  an  exploring 
expedition  and  named  it  the  South  Sea. 

1515  Search  for  a  Northwest  passage,  first  supposed  to  be  near  the 
equator,  but  moved  northward,  as  its  existence  was  disproved  by 
later  discoveries,  resulted  in  the  first  explorations  of  the  Northwest 
Coast. 

1543  First  discovery  of  the  Northwest  Coast  was  made,  perhaps,  by 
Bartolome  Ferrelo,  who  had  been  dispatched  by  the  Spanish  Gov- 
ernment to  explore  as  far  northward  as  possible. 

1579  Second  discovery  of  the  Northwest  Coast  was  made,  perhaps,  by 
the  English  freebooter.  Sir  Francis  Drake,  who  was  seeking  the 
Northwest  Passage  homeward  to  elude  the  Spaniards,  whom  he  had 
plundered. 

1670  Hudson  Bay  Company,  a  famous  English  monopoly,  was  organized 
and  granted  the  sole  trade  of  the  Hudson  Bay  country  with  juris- 
diction, civil  and  criminal,  over  all  countries  in  North  America 
not  subject  to  other  Christian  nations. 

1741  Third  discovery  of  the  Northwest  Coast  was  made,  perhaps,  by  the 
Russian  explorer,  Vitus  Bering,  who  was  the  first  navigator  to 
establish  the  fact  that  America  was  isolated  and  not  a  part  of  Asia. 

1743  Discovery  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  somewhere  in  the  vicinity  of 
the  Yellowstone  National  Park  and  called  Shining  Mountains  by 
Pierre  de  la  Verendrye  while  in   search  of  a  western   sen. 

1703  Treaty,  of  Paris,  which  ended  the  French  and  Indian  War,  divested 
France  of  her  entire  possessions,  consisting  of  the  cream  of  the 
country,  giving  the  destiny  of  the  North  American  continent  to  the 
Anglo-Saxon   instead  of  the  Latin  race. 


'      ■     ■       .     .       I 

'     '         .        t   I 


10  ;  IDAHO   CHRONOLOGY 


<  •    t    «       .  , 


1774  First  real  and  undisputed  discovery  of  the  Northwest  Coast  was 
made  by  the  Spanish  explorer,  Juan  Perez,  who  had  orders  to  find 
and  take  possession  of  the  mythical  Strait  of  Anian  and  prevent 
foreign  encroachment  therein. 

1775  First  landing  of  Europeans  on  the  Northwest  Coast  was  made  at 
Point  Grenville,  Washington,  by  the  Spanish  explorer,  Bruno  Heceta, 
who  took  possession  of  the  country  for  Spain. 

1778  The  word  "Oregon,"  to  designate  a  "River  of  the  West,"  was  invented 
by  the  American  traveler,  Jonathan  Carver,  which  name  was  made 
permanent  by  William  Cullen  Bryant  in  his  poem,  Thanatopsis. 

1778  Captain  James  Cook,  an  English  navigator,  sailed  into  Nootka  Sound 
while  in  search  of  the  Northwest  Passage  during  his  third  voyage 
around  the  world  and  was  the  first  to  ascertain  the  value  of  the 
American  fur  trade. 

1783  Independence  of  the  United  States  of  America  was  recognized  by 
the  nations  of  Europe  at  the  Treaty  of  Paris,  which  ended  the  Revo- 
lutionary War. 

17S4  Northwest  Fur  Company,  an  English  corporation,  was  organized  by 
Scotch  merchants  of  Montreal,  Canada,  to  conduct  a  fur  trading 
business  among  the  Indians. 

17S8  First  landing  by  Americans  on  the  Northwest  Coast  was  made  at 
Tillamook  Bay,  Oregon,  by  a  fur  trading  expedition  which  had  been 
sent  to  the  Pacific  by  six  merchants  of  Boston  in  the  sloop  Lady 
~\Yashington. 

1790  Nootka  Convention,  a  treaty  between  England  and  Spain,  was  signed 
whereby  Spain  acknowledged  the  right  of  the  English  to  fish,  trade 
and  settle  along  the  North  Pacific  Coast. 

1792  Discovery  of  the  Columbia  River  by  Captain  Robert  Gray,  a  fur 
trader  representing  Boston  merchants.  He  sailed  some  distance  up 
the  stream,  naming  it  after  his  ship,  Columbia. 

1792  Right  of  discovery  entitled  the  United  States  to  all  countries 
drained  by  the  Columbia  River,  but  a  vacillating  diplomatic  policy 
deprived  her  of  its  full  benefit. 

1793  First  overland  journey  made  by  Europeans  across  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains to  the  Pacific  Coast,  north  of  California,  was  made  thru 
British  Columbia  by  Alexander  Mackenzie  with  an  English  exploring 
party  for  the  Northwest  Fur  Company. 

1800  Province  of  Louisiana  retroceded  from  Spain  to  France  by  the  Treaty 
of  San  Ildefonso;  Spain  having  had  possession  of  that  province 
since  the  Treaty  of  Paris  in  1708. 

1803  Louisiana  Purchase,  including  the  United  States  lying  between  the 
Mississippi  River  and  the  Rocky  Mountains,  except  Texas,  was  pur- 
chased  from  France  thin  the  American  minister,  Robert  R.  Living- 
ston, for  $15,000,000. 

1804  Second  overland  journey  across  the  Rocky  Mountains  .to  the  Pacific 
Ocean  was  made  by  Captains  Lewis  and  Clark,  American  explorers, 
sent  by  President  Jefferson  to  explore  the  Missouri  and  Columbia 
River  regions. 


IDAHO   CHRONOLOGY  11 

1805"  First  white  man  to  cross  the  Continental  Divide  of  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains and  enter  the  Columbia  River  Basin  was  Captain  Meriwether 
Lewis,  who  crossed  thru  Lemhi  Pass  at  the  head  of  Agency  Creek, 
a  tributary  of  Lemhi  River. 

1806  Lewis  and  Clark  expedition  of  thirty-two  persons  wintered  at  Clat- 
sop, near  Astoria,  Oregon,  returning  to  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  having 
been  two  and  a  half  years  in  the  wilderness  and  traveling  nine  thou- 
sand miles. 

1808  American  Fur  Company,  incorporated  by  the  New  York  Legislature, 
was  organized  by  John  Jacob  Astor  to  include  all  his  fur  dealing 
operations. 

1809  Missouri  Fur  Company,  a  fur  trading  association,  was  organized  at 
St.  Louis,  Missouri,  by  prominent  business  men  of  that  place  to 
traffic  for  furs  along  the  Missouri  River. 

1809  First  establishment  erected  on  the  Northwest  Coast  was  the  Kully- 
spell  house  built  on  Pend  Oreille  Lake,  near  Hope,  Idaho,  by  David 
Thompson  for  the  Northwest  Fur  Company,  but  was  soon  abandoned. 

1810-  First  American  trading  post  on  the  Pacific  slope  was  Fort  Henry, 
erected  at  Egin,  Idaho,  by  Andrew  Henry  of  the  Missouri  Fur  Com- 
pany for  Indian  trading  purposes,  but  was  soon  abandoned. 

1810  Pacific  Fur  Company  was  organized  by  John  Jacob  Astor  for  the 
purpose  of  conducting  a  fur  trade  on  the  Columbia  River  and  Pacific 
Coast. 

1811  First  settlement  of  the  Northwest  Coast  was  made  at  Astoria. 
Oregon,  by  Americans  of  the  Pacific  Fur  Company,  and  was  named 
for  John  Jacob  Astor,  head  of  the  company. 

1811  First  exploring  party  to  traverse  the  Snake  River  country  was  the 
Astoria  land  expedition  under  Wilson  P.  Hunt,  which  made  the  third 
overland  journey  westward,  with  many  hardships  and  sufferings. 

1812  Robert  Stuart,  with  a  party  of  six  men,  returned  thru  the  Snake 
River  country,  and  perhaps  thru  the  South  Pass  to  the  East,  carry- 
ing the  news  of  the  success  in  establishing  Astoria. 

1813  Astoria  was  captured  by  the  English  in  the  War  of  1812  and  the 
name  changed  to  Fort  George,  which  became  the  headquarters  of  the 
Northwest  Fur  Company. 

1814  Brigade  of  the  Northwest  Fur  Company  journeyed  from  the  mouth 
of  the  Columbia  River  over  the  northern  route  to  Montreal.  Canada, 
to  cany  the  news  of  the  capture  of  Astoria. 

1816     Law  prohibiting  traffic  of  any  nature  by  English  traders  within  the 

territory  of  the  United  States  was  passed  by  Congress. 
1818     Astoria  was  restored  to  the  sovereignty  of  the  United  States,  as  the 

Americans  were  successful  in  the  War  of  1812. 
1818     Convention    of    joint    occupancy,    between    England    and    the   LTnited 

States,  was  made  to  the  effect  that  the  Northwest  Coast  was  to  be 

free  and  open  to  the  subjects  of  both  countries. 
1818     Fort  Walla    Walla    was    established    on    the    Columbia   River  by   the 

Northwest    Fur   Company   for   an    outfitting   and   trading  post,   with 

Pierre  S.  Pambrun  in  charge. 


12  IDAHO   CHRONOLOGY 

1818     First  Snake  country  expedition  was  conducted  by  Donald  Mackenzie 

of  the  Northwest  Fur  Company,  who  led,  each  year  for  four  years, 

a  band  of  fur  trappers  from   Fort  Walla  Walla   to  the  headwaters 

and  streams  of  Snake  River. 
1810     Treaty  between  Spain  and  the  United  States  was  made  by  which, 

among  other  things,  the  United  States  acquired  all  of  Spain's  rights 

to  the  Northwest  Coast. 
1820     First   discussion   of  the   political   condition   of  the  Northwest  Coast 

was   made   in   Congress   over   the  propriety  of  taking  possession   of 

the  Columbia  River  region. 

1820  Iroquois  Indians,  who  had  been  instructed  in  the  Jesuit  faith,  were 
laboring  with  and  preaching  the  gospels  to  the  Nez  Perce  Indians. 

1821  Northwest  Fur  Company  was  consolidated  with  the  Hudson  Bay 
Company  under  the  latter  name  for  the  purpose  of  monopolizing  the 
fur  trade  on  the  North  American  continent. 

1823  A  battle  in  Lemhi  Valley,  Idaho,  was  fought  between  the  men  of 
the  Snake  country  expedition,  commanded  by  Finan  McDonald,  and 
Piegan  Indians,  resulting  in  a  murderous  defeat  of  the  Indians. 

1823  Monroe  doctrine,  that  the  American  continents  are  henceforth  not' 
to  be  considered  as  subjects  for  future  colonization,  was  enunciated 
to  Congress  by  President  James  Monroe. 

1823  Rocky  Mountain  Fur  Company  was  organized  by  western  fur  traders 
at  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  to  trade  and  traffic  in  the  mountains  at  the 
various  rendezvous. 

1824  Snake  counfry  expedition  of  one  hundred  and  forty  persons,  led  by 
Alexander  Ross,  trapped  the  Lemhi  and  Salmon  rivers  southward, 
thence  to  Lost  and  Wood  rivers. 

1824  The  first  Americans  to  trap  the  Snake  River  country  was  a  band  of 
trappers  led  by  Jedediah  S.  Smith  from  the  east  across  the  Rocky 
Mountains. 

1824  Treaty  between  Russia  and  the  United  States  was  made  by  which, 
among  other  things,  the  United  States  acquired  all  of  Russia's  rights 
to  the  Northwest  Coast. 

1825  Fort  Vancouver,  Washington,  was  built  on  the  Columbia  River  by 
tile  Hudson  Bay  Company  with  Dr.  John  McLoughlin  in  charge, 
which  fort  became  the  company's  headquarters  for  the  Northwest 
Coast. 

1825  Snake  country  expedition  was  conducted  by  Peter  Skene  Ogden  of 
the  Hudson  Bay  Company,  who  for  five  years  led  bands  of  fur  trap- 
pers principally  to  the  Portneuf  and  Bear  River  countries. 

1827  Treaty  of  joint  occupancy  of  1818  between  England  and  the  United 
States  was  continued  until  either  party  thereto  should  give  a  year's 
notice  of  its  abrogation. 

* 

1820  Americans  of  the  Rocky  Mountain  Fur  Company,  led  by  Joseph  L. 
Meek,  commenced  to  compete  in  the  fur  trade  with  the  Hudson  Bay 
Company  in  the  Snake  River  country,  which  competition  became 
quite  bitter. 


IDAHO   CHRONOLOGY  13 

1829  Rendezvous  for  Indian  trading  by  the  Rocky  Mountain  Fur  Com- 
pany was  held  at  Pierre's  Hole,  now  known  as  Teton  Basin,  Idaho, 
where  hundreds  of  mountain  men  and  trappers  congregated. 

1830  Risk  of  life  in  the  Rocky  Mountains  for  the  past  decade  had  been 
so  great  that  two-fifths  of  all  hunters  and  trappers  were  killed  either 
by  Indians  or  accident. 

1830  SnaRe  country  expedition  was  conducted  by  John  Work  of  the  Hud- 
son Bay  Company,  who  for  two  years  led  parties  of  fur  trappers 
along  the  Reed,  Malade,  Goddin  and  Salmon  rivers. 

1830  Rendezvous  for  Indian  trading  by  the  Rocky  Mountain  Fur  Company 
was  held  on  the  Blackfoot  River,  Idaho,  where  competition  in  fur 
trading  became  intensely  keen. 

1831  Fur  trappers  of  the  Rocky  Mountain  Fur  Company,  led  by  Kit  Car- 
son, wintered  on  the  Salmon  River,  where  many  furs  were  gathered, 
but  four  of  their  party  were  killed  by  Indians. 

1832  Four  Indian  chiefs  of  the  Columbia  River  country  journeyed  to  St. 
Louis,  Missouri,  to  obtain  a  copy  of  the  white  man's  Bible  and  to 
ask  Captain  William  Clark  for  missionaries  to  be  sent  among  them. 

1832  First  crossing  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  with  wagons  was  made  by 
Captain  B.  L.  E.  Bonneville  to  Green  River,  Wyoming,  where  the 
wagons  were  cached,  after  which  he  wintered  on  Salmon  River, 
near  Salmon  City,  where  he  built  a  small  fortification. 

1832  Battle  of  Pierre's  Hole  in  which  American  trappers  and  fur  traders, 
led  by  Wyeth  and  Sublette,  defeated  the  Grosventre  Indians,  killing 
many  of  them. 

1833  Captain  B.  L.  E.  Bonneville  explored  the  Snake  River  country,  after 
which  he  wintered  at  Batise  Springs  on  the  Portneuf,  near  Poca- 
tello,  Idaho. 

1833  Wave  of  western  emigration  and  civilization  to  the  Northwest  Coast 
was  started  by  Nathaniel  Wyeth  of  New  England,  who,  after 
inspecting  the  Snake  and  Columbia  River  countries,  interested  people 
in  the  agricultural  occupation  of  the  land. 

1834  Over  a  thousand  plant  names  were  added  to  western  botanical 
vocabulary  by  David  Douglas  after  ten  years  spent  in  botan- 
ical research  on  the  Northwest  Coast. 

v 
1834     Fort   Hall,   Idaho,    was   established   by   Americans   under   Nathaniel 

Wyeth,  becoming  the  meeting  place  for  years  of  trails  and  roads  to 

western  parts  of  the  United  States. 

1834  Second  settlement  of  the  Northwest  Coast  was  made  in  the  Willa- 
mette Valley,  Oregon,  by  Americans  under  Jason  Lee,  who  had  been 
conducted  down  the  Snake  and  Columbia  rivers  by  Wyeth. 

1834  Scientific  survey  along  the  Snake  River  was  made  by  John  K.  Town- 
send,  the  ornithologist,  and  Thomas  Nuttall,  the  eminent  botanist. 

1834  Captain  B.  L.  E.  Bonneville  traveled  down  the  Snake  River  to  Fort 
Walla  Walla.  After  being  so  long  on  the  Snake  River  desert  his 
men  were  overjoyed  to  see  the  wooded  stream,  changing  its  name 
from  Reed  to  Boise  River. 

1834     Fort  Boise  was  erected  by  the  Hudson  Bay  Company  near  the  mouth 


14  IDAHO   CHRONOLOGY 

of  Boise  River,  for  Indian  trading  purposes,  with  Francis  Payette 
in  charge. 

1835  Rev.  Samuel  Parker,  Presbyterian  minister  from  New  England,  jour- 
neyed with  Nez  Perces  thru  the  mountains  down  Lemhi,  Salmon, 
Kooskooskia  and  Snake  rivers  to  Fort  Walla  Walla. 

183G  First  white  women  to  cross  the  American  continent  were  Mrs.  Whit- 
man and  .Mrs.  Spalding,  who  came  with  their  husbands  to  do  mis- 
sionary work  among  the  Indians. 

183G  Missions  were  founded  at  Waiilatjpu,  Washington,  among  the  Cayuses 
and  at  Lapwai,  Idaho,  among  the  Nez  Perces  by  missionaries  from 
New  England,  Or.  Marcus  Whitman  at  the  former  and  Rev.  Henry  H. 
Spalding  at  the  latter  place. 

1837  Fort  Hall,  Idaho,  was  purchased  from  Nathaniel  Wyeth  by  the 
Hudson  Bay  Company  and  Captain  James  Grant  placed  in  charge. 

1837  First  white  child  born  on  the  Northwest  Coast  was  Eliza  Spalding 
at  Lapwai,  Idaho. 

1838  First  farming  on  Idaho  territory  by  the  white  man  was  that  done 
by  Rev.  Henry  H.  Spalding  at  Lapwai,  Idaho. 

1839  First  printing  press  installed  on  the  Northwest  Coast  was  brought 
from  Honolulu  and  set  up  at  Lapwai,  Idaho,  to  print  religious 
tracts  for  the  natives. 

1840  *  First  overland  emigrants  to  cross  the  plains  of  Idaho  for  the  Oregon 

country  was  Joel  P.  Walker,  accompanied  by  his  wife  and  family. 

1841  I'nited  States  exploring  expedition  under  Captain  Charles  Wilkes, 
accompanied  oy  many  of  the  nation's  greatest  scientists,  gathered 
data  and  knowledge  of  the  Northwest  Coast,  proving  its  greatness 
a  reality  and  not  a  myth. 

1842  Captain  John  C.  Fremont  mapped  the  South  Pass,  Wyoming,  which 
proved  to  be  a  natural  way  for  emigrants  traveling  to  the  North- 
west Coast. 

1842  First  mission  erected  on  Idaho  territory  by  the  fathers  of  the 
Catholic  Church  was  on  St.  Joe  River  among  the  Coeur  d'Alene 
Indians. 

1843  Great  Oregon  emigration,  crossing  the  desert  and  plains  of  Idaho, 
settled  in  what  afterwards  became  the  State  of  Oregon. 

1843  Snake  River  country  was  explored  and  mapped  by  Captain  John  C. 
Fremont  to  connect  his  own  survey  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  with 
that  made  by  Captain  Charles  Wilkes  of  the  Pacific  Coast. 

1843  Classification  of  Rocky  Mountain  birds  was  made  by  the  celebrated 
ornithologist,  John  J.  Audubon. 

1843  "First  highway  across  Idaho  was  tne  Oregon  trail  which  entered 
near  Montpelier,  passed  by  Fort  Hall;  thence  westward  south  of 
Snake  River  to  the  ford  below  Salmon  Falls;  thence  to  Fort  Boise, 
crossing  Snake  River  into  Oregon ;  thence  over  the  Blue  Mountains 
to  the  Columbia  River. 

1843  First  American  civil  government  west  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  was 
formed,  being  a  provisional  government  for  the  country,  organized 
by  a  meeting  of  Americans  at  Champoeg,  Oregon. 


IDAHO   CHRONOLOGY  15 

1844  "Fifty-four,  forty  or  fight,"  was  the  Democratic  slogan  in  the  cam- 
paign and  one  issue  on  which  President  Polk  was  elected. 

1844  Great  inducements  for  settlers  in  Oregon  rolled  up  the  emigration 
which  poured  into  the  Columbia  River  Basin. 

1845  Emigration  to  the  Columbia  was  a  mighty  movement  across  the 
continent,  resulting  in  doubling  the  population  of  Oregon. 

1845  First  discovery  of  gold  on  the  Pacific  slope  was  made  on  Malheur 
River,  Oregon,  by  wandering  emigrants,  and  was  known  as  the  "'lost 
mine." 

1846  Treaty  between  England  and  the  United  States  was  made  by  which 
the  United  States  acquired  all  of  England's  right,  title  and  interest 
in  and  to  the  Northwest  Coast  south  of  49°  which  settled  the 
boundary  question  and  ended  the  fur  regime. 

OREGON    TERRITORY 

1846-1859 

1846  Oregon  Territory  included  all  the  country  west  of  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains lying  between  42°  and  49°  and  contained  all  Oregon,  Wash- 
ington, Idaho  and  parts  of  Montana  and  Wyoming. 

1847  Murder  of  Dr.  Whitman,  Mrs.  Whitman,  several  persons  and 
employes  at  Waiilatpu  Mission  by  Cayuse  Indians  for  imagined 
wrongs,  but  the  perpetrators  were  afterwards  captured  and  hung. 

1848  Oregon  organized  as  a  Territory  by  the  American  Congress,  with 
Oregon  City  the  capital  and  Joseph  Lane  of  Indiana  governor. 

1849  Discovery  of  gold  in  California  created  so  great  an  excitement  that 
the  greater  part  of  all  emigration  was  attracted  to  that  country. 

1852  First  discovery  of  gold  in  Idaho  was  made  by  French  Canadians  on 
the  Pend  Oreille  River,  but  did  not  attract  attention. 

1853  Sacred  Heart  Mission  established  by  Father  De  Smet,  a  Jesuit  mis- 
sionary, on  the  Coeur  d'Alene  River,  Idaho,  the  work  of  building 
being  done  by  the  Indians. 

1853  First  railroad  survey  in  Idaho  was  made  by  Isaac  I.  Stevens,  who 
had  charge  of  the  Northern  Pacific  route  of  transcontinental  roads, 
the  survey  of  which  was  authorized  by  Congress. 

1853  Washington  Territory  organized  out  of  Oregon  Territory,  including 
Idaho  north  of  46°,  that  part  south  of  this  line  remaining  in 
Oregon.  Isaac  I.  Stevens  of  Massachusetts  appointed  governor  and 
Olympia  the  capital. 

1854  Walla  Walla  County,  created  by  Washington  Territory,  included 
eastern  Washington  and  Idaho  north  of  46°. 

1854  Train  of  emigrants,  consisting  of  twenty-one  persons,  under  the 
lead  of  Alexander  Ward  of  Kentucky,  massacred  by  Snake  Indians 
near  Fort  Boise,  Idaho. 

1855  Indian  massacres  and  troubles  resulting  in  the  falling  off  of  trade 
caused  Fort  Boise  to.be  abandoned  by  the  Hudson  Bay  Company. 

1855     First  treaty  with  Indians  of  Idaho  was  made  by  Governor  Isaac  T. 


■ 


10  IDAHO   CHRONOLOGY 

Stevens  at  Camp  Stevens,  Washington,  with  the  Nez  Perces,  defining 
their  reservation,  which  included  lands  in  Idaho,  Oregon  and  Wash- 
ington. 

18o5  Treaty  with  Kutenai,  Tend  Oreille  and  Flathead  Indians  was  made 
by  Governor  Isaac  I.  Stevens  at  Hellgate,  Montana,  defining  their 
reservation,  which  included  lands  in  Idaho  and  Montana. 

1855  First  land  reclaimed  by  irrigation,  in  Idaho  was  at  Fort  Limhi 
by  Mormon  missionaries  from  Utah,  who  founded  an  agricultural 
settlement  in  Lemhi  Valley. 

1850  Fort  Hall  was  abandoned  by  the  Hudson  Bay  Company  and  the 
goods  removed  to  Flathead,  Montana,  because  of  the  decline  in  the 
fur  trade. 

1857  President  Brighani  Young  visited  the  Mormon  settlement  at  Fort 
Limhi,  which  had  been  augmented  with  recruits  from  Utah  and  was 
in  a  flourishing  condition. 

1858  Bannack  Indians  attacked  the  Mormons  at  Fort  Limhi,  killing  two 
of  their  number  and  driving  the  remainder  back  to  Utah,  making  an 
end  to  this  settlement. 

1858     Shoshone  County,  created  by  Washington  Legislature,  comprised  all 

country  north  of  Snake  River,  east  of  Columbia  River  and  wrest  of 

the  Rocky  Mountains. 
1858     Battle  of  Steptoe  Butte  in  which  troops  under  Colonel  E,  J.  Steptoe 

were    defeated    near    Rosalia,    Washington,    by    the    Coeur    d'Alene, 

Palouse  and  Spokane  Indians. 

1858  Punitive  expedition  against  the  Indians  was  conducted  by  Colonel 
George  Wrignt  along  the  Spokane  and  Coeur  d'Alene  rivers,  where 
several  engagements  were  fought,  the  Indians  defeated,  and  sub- 
mitted to  the  authorities  at  Coeur  d'Alene  mission. 

1859  Oregon  was  admitted  into  the  Union  as  a  free  State  with  her  present 
boundary. 


WASHINGTON    TERRITORY 
1859-1863 

1859     Washington    Territory    included    all    Washington,    Idaho   and    parts 

of  Montana  and  Wyoming. 
1800     First    permanent    agricultural    settlement    made    in    Idaho    wras    by 

the  Mormon  people  from  Utah  at  Franklin,  where  thirteen  families 

located. 
18G0     Otter    family    and    emigrants    of    forty-four    persons    ambushed    by 

Shoshoni  Indians  below  Salmon  Falls  and  either  killed  or  scattered 

over   the   country,    resulting   in   one   of   the   most  terrible   of   human 

experiences. 
1800     Gold  discovered  on  Oro  Fino  Creek,  Idaho,  by  a  party  of  prospectors 

led  by  Captain  E.  D.  Pierce  of  California. 
18G0     Second  great  highway  across  Idaho  was  the  Mullan  military  wagon 


IDAHO   CHRONOLOGY  17 

road  built  by  the  United  States  Government  at  an  expense  of  $230,- 
000  from  Fort  Benton,  Montana,  to  Fort  Walla  Walla,  Washington, 
a  distance  of  six  hundred  and  twenty-four  miles,  passing  north  of 
Coeur  d'Alene  Lake. 

1860  Permanent  settlement  of  Idaho  began  with  the  discovery  of  gold  in 
the  north,  many  people  who  came  to  mine  remained  in  the  country 
and  made  homes. 

1801  First  city  established  in  Idaho  was  Lewiston  at  the  junction  of  the 
Snake  and  Clearwater  rivers,  it  being  the  head  of  navigation. 

1801  First  county  created  in  Idaho  was  Shoshone  with  Pierce  City  the 
county  seat,  including  all  country  lying  between  the  Clearwater  and 
Palouse  rivers. 

1861  Second  county  created  in  Idaho  was  Nez  Perce  with  Lewiston  the 
county  seat,  including  all  country  lying  south  and  west  of  the  Clear- 
water River. 

18G1  Third  county  created  in  Idaho  was  Idaho  with  Florence  the  county 
seat,  including  all  country  lying  east  of  Snake  and  north  of  Salmon 
rivers. 

1801  Salmon  River  mines  were  discovered,  while  a  search  for  a  rich 
central  gold  deposit  was  made  by  prospectors,  revealing  the  Florence 
diggings. 

1802  First  vigilance  committee  of  Idaho,  a  self-constituted  judicial  body 
for  the  summary  dispensing  of  justice,  was  effected  at  Lewiston  under 
the  name  of  the  Idaho  Vigilance  Committee,  and  proved  a  most 
efficient   institution. 

1802  A  whole  train  of  emigrants  were  massacred  by  Chief  Pocatello  and 
his  warlike  followers  near  the  City  of  Rocks,  Idaho. 

1862  Salmon  River  Basin  gold  mines  were  discovered  lying  south  of  the 
Salmon  River  and  were  called  Warren  diggings,  for  their  discoverer. 

1862  First  newspaper  published  in  Idaho  was  the  Golden  Age,  by  A.  S. 
Gould  at  Lewiston. 

1862  Boise  Basin  mines  were  discovered  by  a  party  of  prospectors  led  by 
George  Grimes  of  Oregon  City,  who  was  killed  by  their  Shoshoni 
guide. 

1862  First  substantial  placer  mines  of  Montana  were  discovered  at  Ban- 
nack  by  a  party  of  prospectors  led  by  John  White,  who  had  endeav- 
ored to  reach  the  Florence  mines  by  the  way  of  Fort  Limhi. 

1862  Murderous  attacks  were  made  by  Shoshoni  Indians  on  prospectors 
along  the  Snake  and  Malheur  rivers,  and  several  of  the  Adams 
emigrant  train  were  killed  and  wounded. 

1862  First  military  fort  erected  in  Idaho  was  on  Lapwai  Creek,  built  for 
protection  against  Indians,  and  was  called  Fort  Lapwai. 

1862  National  Homestead  Act,  opening  the  public  domain  to  the  free 
acquisition  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  of  land  for  homes,  proved 
to  be  the  most  beneficent  law  ever  enacted  for  the  settlement  of  a 
new  territory. 

1863  Fourth  county  created  in  Idaho  was  Boise,  with  Bannack  City  the 


18  IDAHO   CHRONOLOGY 

county  seat,  including  all  country  lying  south  of  an  cast  and  west 
line  run  from  the  head  of  Payette  River  to  the  Rocky  Mountains. 
18<;:>     Battle  of  Bear  River  was  fought  in  which  the  Bannack  Indians,  led 
by    Chief    PocatellQ,    were    defeated    by    United    States    troops    com- 
manded by  General  P.  E.  Conner  from  Fort  Douglas,  Utah. 

• 

IDAHO    TERRITORY 

1863-1890 

1863  March  3d,  Idaho  Territory  was  organized  out  of  parts  of  Washing- 
ton, Nebraska  and  Dakota  territories,  with  Lewiston  the  capital, 
and  William  H.  Wallace,  Republican,  of  Washington  Territory, 
governor.  The  new  Territory  contained  four  counties,  ten  mining 
towns  and  twenty  thousand  people. 

18C3  First  location  of  quartz  claims  was  made  in  the  Boise  Basin, 
where  several  ledges  of  high  grade  gold  ore  were  found  and  worked 
and  the  town  of  Quartzburg  was  located. 

1863  Discovery  of  the  Jordan  Creek  placer  mines  was  made  by  a  party 
of  prospectors,  led  by  Michael  Jordan,  while  searching  lor  the  "lost 
diggins"  of  the  emigrants  of  '45. 

1863     Second  silver  deposit  of  importance  in  the  United  States  was  dis- 
covered oh  streams  running  into  Jordan   Creek. 
L  1863     Gold  quartz  was  discovered  on  the  south   fork  of  Boise  River  and 
its  tributaries,  and  the  mining  town  of  Esmeralda  was  located. 

1863  Second  treaty  with  the  Nez  Perces  was  made  at  Council  Grounds  in 
Lapwai  Valley  whereby  the  tribe  relinquished  to  the  United  States 
the  lands  reserved  for  them,  except  their  present  reservation  now 
held  in  severalty. 

1863  Captain  Jefferson  J.  Standifer  of  Boise  Basin,  with  a  volunteer  force 
of  two  hundred  men,  chastized  the  Shoshoni  Indians,  led  by  Chief 
Nampuh,  along  the  Snake,  Payette,  Malheur  and  Bruneau  rivers. 

1863  First  treaty  with  the  eastern  band  of  Shoshoni  Indians  at  Fort 
Bridger,  Utah,  was  made,  whereby  the  Government  recognized  their 
territorial  claim  to  lands  in  Idaho,  Wyoming,  Utah  and  Colorado. 

1863  First  treaty  with  the  western  band  of  Shoshoni  Indians  at  Box 
Elder,  Utah,  was  made,  whereby  the  Government  recognized  their 
territorial  claim  to  lands  in  Idaho,  Utah,  Nevada,  Oregon  and  Cali- 
fornia. 

1863  Boise  Barracks  was  established  on  Moore  Creek  by  Major  P.  Lugen- 
biel,  who,  in  answer  to  an  appeal  made  to  the  Government  for 
protection  from  Indians,  came  from  Washington  Territory  with  a 
company  of  cavalry. 

1863  Townsite  of  Boise  City  was  laid  out  by  some  merchants  under  the 
lead  of  Cyrus  Jacobs  a  few  days  after  Boise  Barracks  was  estab- 
lished. 

1863  Pioneer  newspaper  of  southern  Idaho,  the  Boise  Neios,  owned  and 
edited  by  T.  J.  and  J.  S.  Butler,  was  established  in  Boise  Basin. 


IDAHO   CHRONOLOGY  19 

1803  First  political  conventions  in  Idaho  were  held  at  Mount  Idaho  by 
the  Kepublican  party  and  at  Idaho  City  by  the  Democratic  party. 

1863  Lloyd  Magruder  and  party  were  murdered  at  Nez  Perce  Pass,  Idaho, 
by  road  agents  in  the  most  dastardly  and  foul  manner  known  in  the 
mountains. 

1803  First  election  in  Idaho  was  hold  in  which  William  II.  Wallace, 
Republican,  was  elected  delegate  to  the  Thirty-eighth  Congress. 

1803  First  session  of  the  Territorial  Legislature  met  at  Lewiston  on 
December  7th  with  twenty  members. 

1803  First  law  passed  by  the  Legislature  divided  the  Territory  into  three 
judicial  districts:  First,  Nez  Perce,  Shoshone  and  Idaho  counties, 
with  Alex  C.  Smith,  judge;  Second,  Boise  County,  with  Samuel 
C.  Parks,  judge;  Third,  country  east  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  with 
Sidney  Edgerton,  judge  and  chief  justice. 

1803  Fifth  county  created  in  Idaho  was  Owyhee,  with  Ruby  City  the 
county  seat,  including  all  country  lying  south  of  Snake  River  and 
wTest  of  the  Rocky  Mountains. 

1804  Common  law  of  England,  as  far  as  the  same  was  applicable,  was 
adopted  as  the  law  of  Idaho,  after  which  the  statute  law  of  Cali- 
fornia was  enacted  almost  bodily. 

1804  First  court  trial  in  Idaho  was  held  at  Lewiston  on  January  5th 
before  Judge  Samuel  C.  Parks  in  the  case  of  the  Magruder  mur- 
derers. 

1804  Sixth  county  created  in  Idaho  was  Oneida,  with  Soda  Springs  the 
county  seat,  including  all  lands  east  of  a  north  and  south  line  along 
the  113°  longitude  from  Utah  to  Snake  River. 

1804  Seventh  county  created  in  Idaho  was  Alturas,  with  Esmeralda  the 
county  seat,  including  all  lands  north  of  Snake  River  from  mouth 
of  Bruneau  to  Lost  River  and  as  far  north  as  the  Sawtooth  Moun- 
tains. 

1804.  Latoh  County  was  created  with  Coeur  d'Alene  City  the  county  seat, 
including  all  lands  north  of  Nez  Perce  and  Shoshone  counties  to 
48°,  but  was  not  organized. 

1804  Kootenai  County  was  created,  but  not  organized,  with  Sin-na-ac-qua- 
teen  the  county  seat,  including  all  Idaho  north  of  48°. 

1804  Idaho  territory  east  of  the  Bitterroot  and  Rocky  Mountains  was 
organized  into  ten  counties,  eight  of  which  were  afterwards  in  Mon- 
tana and  two  in  Wyoming. 

18G4  Idaho  territory  west  of  the  Bitterroot  and  Rocky  Mountains  was 
reorganized  into  seven  counties  as  already  named,  their  boundaries 
being  changed  to  conform  to  proper  limits. 

1804  Transportation  and  mail  service  by  stage  coaches  was  successfully 
inaugurated  and  Ben  Holliday  awarded  the  contract  to  carry  a  tri- 
weekly mail  from  Salt  Lake  via  Fort  Hall  and  Boise  to  W7alla  Walla. 

1804  Idaho  Statesman,  a  triweekly  newspaper,  owned  and  managed  by 
J.  S.,  R.  W.  and  T.  B.  Reynolds,  was  established  at  Boise  City. 

1804  Roads,  trails,  thorofares  and  bridges  were  made  public  highways  to 
be  constructed  and  maintained  by  the  respective  counties. 


20  IDAHO   CHRONOLOGY 

18G4  Depreciation  of  the  national  currency,  premium  on  gold  and  infla- 
tion of  prices  resulting  from  the  Civil  War  necessitated  an  addi- 
tional pay  to  all  territorial  employes  above  the  salary  allowed  by 
the  National  Government. 

18G4  Toll  roads,  bridges  and  ferries  were  liberally  granted  by  the  Legis- 
lature as  means  of  transportation  and  a  ready  revenue  were  both 
needed  by  the  new  Territory. 

1804  Legal  rate  of  interest  was  fixed  at  10  per  cent  per  annum,  but 
parties  could  agree  in  writing  for  the  payment  of  any  rate  of 
interest  whatever. 

1804  Every  male  person  eighteen  years  of  age  and  every  female  sixteen 
years,  or  more,  shall  be  capable,  in  law,  of  contracting  marriage. 

1804  Montana  Territory  was  organized  by  Congress  out  of  Idaho  Terri- 
tory, with  Sidney  Edgerton  as  governor  and  Bannack  the  capital. 

1804  Second  territorial  governor  was  Caleb  Lyon,  Republican,  of  Lyons- 
dale,  New  York,  who  was  appointed  by  President  Lincoln. 

1804  National  election :  Abraham  Lincoln,  Republican,  was  elected 
President  for  a  second  term,  and  E.  D.  Holbrook,  Democrat,  dele- 
gate to  the  Thirty-ninth  Congress. 

1804  Second  session  of  the  Territorial  Legislature  met  at  Lewiston  on 
December  14th  with  twenty  members. 

18G4  Common  school  system  was  established  for  the  maintenance  of 
which  the  National  Government  had  donated  in  the  Idaho  organic 
act  sections  10  and  30  of  all  public  lands. 

18G4  Eighth  county  created  in  Idaho  was  Ada,  with  Boise  City  the 
county  seat,  including  all  lands  lying  in  the  southwestern  part  of 
Boise  County. 

18G4  Payette  Valley  Vigilance  Committee  was  formed  for  the  purpose  of 
clearing  that  neighborhood  of  numerous  horse  thieves  and  gold- 
dust  counterfeiters. 

18G5  Territorial  capital  was  removed  from  Lewiston  to  Boise  by  United 
States  Marshal  J.  H.  Alvord  under  orders  from  Washington,  D.   C. 

1805  Salt  Lake-Helena  stage  was  robbed  of  $00,000  and  four  passengers 
murdered  by  road  agents  in  Portneuf  Canyon. 

1805  Idaho  City  Vigilance  Committee  was  organized  to  dispense  justice 
and  enforce  human  rights  in  the  mines,  as  the  courts  did  not  give 
sufficient  security. 

18G5  Attention  was  attracted  to  southeastern  Idaho  when  J.  M.  Taylor 
erected  a  bridge  across  Snake  River  at  Eagle  Rock  in  the  place  of 
the  old  ferry. 

18G5  Annual  election,  in  which  territorial,  county  and  precinct  officers 
were  chosen. 

1805  Third  session  of  the  Territorial  Legislature  met  at  Boise  on  Decem- 
ber 4th  with  twenty-six  members. 

1800  Debtor's  act  relating  to  insolvency  and  bankruptcy  was  made  a 
law  of  the  Territory. 

18GG     Corporations  may  be  created  for  the  organization  and  maintenance 


IDAHO   CHRONOLOGY  21 

of  historic,  scientific,  aid  or  educational  and  other  literary  societies 

designated  to  promote  the  diffusion  of  useful  knowledge. 
1866     Incorporation  of  grand  and  subordinate  lodges  of  Free  and  Accepted 

Masons  and  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  was  provided  for. 
1866     Federal  lode  mining  act  was  passed  by  Congress,  based  largely  on 

miners'  rules  and  customs  which  had  prevailed  in  the  Territory. 
1866     Boise"  City  Vigilance  Committee  was  organized  for  the  protection  of 

rights  and  the  enforcement  of  justice. 
1866     State  of  Columbia  was  proposed  by  Idaho  Legislature  in  a  petition 

to   Congress,  wrhich  was  to  include   all  lands  in  western  Montana, 

northern  Idaho  and  eastern  Oregon. 
1866     Buffalo  Hump   in  volcanic   eruption,   sending  up  volumes  of  smoke 

Hon.  John  R.  McBride  chief  justice. 
1866     Survey  of  public  lands  in  Idaho  began  with  L.  F.  Cartee  as  surveyor 

general.     The  initial  point  of  survey  was  nineteen  miles  southwest 

of  Boise. 
1866     Buffalo  Hump  in   volcanic   eruption,   sending  up  volumes   of  smoke 

and  emitting  columns  of  molten  lava. 
1866     Gold  discovered  on  Napias  Creek  at  Leesburg  in  Lemhi  County  by 

a  party  of  Montana  prospectors  led  by  Frank  B.  Sharkey. 
1866     Third   territorial   governor   was   David   W.    Ballard,   Republican,   of 

Oregon,  appointed  by  President  Johnson. 
1866     Territorial    election:     E.    D.    Holbrook,    Democrat,    elected    delegate 

tor  a  second  term  and  to  the  Fortieth  Congress. 

1866  Fourth  session  of  the  Territorial  Legislature  met  at  Boise  on  Decem- 
ber 3d  with  thirty  members. 

1867  Law  of  community  property  rights,  whereby  all  property  acquired 
after  marriage  by  husband  and  wife  belongs  half  to  each  spouse, 
was  adopted. 

1867     First  county  in  Idaho  wiped  from  the  map  by  legislative  enactment 

was  Latoh",  whose  territory  was  annexed  to  Kootenai  County. 
1867     Immigration    into    Idaho    came    henceforth    prepared    to    settle    the 

country  and  make  permanent  homes. 
1867     Masonic  Grand  Lodge  of  Idaho  was  organized  at  Idaho  City  by  five 

lodges    within    the    Territory,    four    under    Oregon    and    one    under 

Washington  jurisdiction. 

1867  Congress  amended  the  Idaho  organic  act  making  biannual  instead 
of  annual  elections  and  meetings  of  the  Territorial  Legislature. 

1868  Wyoming  Territory  was  organized  out  of  Idaho  Territory,  with 
John  A.  Campbell  governor  and  Cheyenne  the  capital. 

1868     Assay  office  and  penitentiary  were  established  at  Boise  by  Congress. 

1868  Treaty  at  Fort  Bridger,  Utah,  with  the  eastern  band  of  Shoshoni 
Indians  in  which  they  relinquished  their  claim  to  all  territory 
excepting  the  Wind  River  Reservation  in  Wyoming. 

1868  National  election:  U.  S.  Grant,  Republican,  elected  President,  and 
Jacob  K.  Shafer,  Democrat,  delegate  to  the  Forty-first  Congress. 

1868  Fifth  session  of  the  Territorial  Legislature  met  at  Boiso  on  Decem- 
ber 7th  with  thirty  members. 


22  IDAHO   CHRONOLOGY 

18G9  Ninth  county  created  in  Idaho  was  Lemhi,  with  Salmon  City  the 
county  seat,  including  all  the  southeastern  part  of  Idaho  County. 

1809  Statue  of  George  Washington,  which  had  been  carved  and  fashioned 
from  native  woods  with  ordinary  tools  by  Charles  Ostner,  was 
unveiled  on  the  capitol  grounds  at  Boise. 

1869  Law  library  of  Idaho  was  established  from  the  fees  paid  by  attor- 
neys for  the  privilege  of  practicing  law  in  the  Territory. 

1869  Placer  gold  strike  was  made  at  Oro  Grande  on  Loon  Creek  in  Lemhi 
County  by  a  party  of  prospectors  led  by  Nate  Smith. 

1869  Union  and  Central  Pacific  railroads  completed  with  Corinne  and 
Kelton,  LTtah,  the  eastern  and  western  shipping  points  into  Idaho. 

1869  Fort  Hall  Indian  Reservation  was  set  aside  by  President  Grant,  by 
executive  order,  for  the  Indians  of  southern  Idaho  and  especially 
the  Shoshonis  and  Banna cks. 

1869  Salt  works  on  Salt  River,  near  Soda  Springs,  were  operated  by 
B.  F.  White  and  furnished  most  of  the  salt  used  in  the  Montana 
smelters. 

1870  Gold  rush  to  Idaho  subsided  as  the  placer  mines  declined  in  their 
yield,  and  more  people  turned  their  attention  to  other  opportunities 
in  the  Territory. 

1870  Federal  placer  mining  act  was  passed  by  Congress  permitting  the 
patenting  of  placer  claims  on  like  conditions  as  in  the  case  of  lode 
claims. 

1870  First  census  of  Idaho  was  taken  by  the  ninth  census  enumerators, 
showing  a  population  of  14,999',  or  .17  person  to  the  square  mile. 

1870  Territorial  election:  Samuel  A.  Merritt,  Democrat,  elected  dele- 
gate to  the   Forty-second  Congress. 

1870  Sixth  session  of  the  Territorial  Legislature  met  at  Boise  on  Decem- 
ber 8th  with  thirty  members. 

1871  Fourth  territorial  governor  of  Idaho  was  Thomas  W.  Bennett, 
Republican,  of  Indiana,  who  was  appointed  by  President  Grant. 

\jf  1871     Placer  gold  was  found  in  paying  quantities  in  the  gravel  bars  along 
•Snake  River,  resulting  in  the  establishment  of  several  mining  camps. 
1871     United  States  geological  survey  was  made  of  the  headwaters  of  the 
Snake  River  by  Prof.  F.  V.  Hayden. 

1871  Boundary  line  between  Idaho  and  Utah  was  surveyed  by  the  United 
States  which  increased  Idaho's  lands,  wealth  and  population. 

J 872  Federal  mining  laws  were  supplemented,  modified  and  completed 
for  the  location,  acquisition  and  patenting  of  both  lode  and  placer 
claims. 

1872  Malheur  Indian  Reservation  in  Oregon  was  set  aside  bv  President 
Grant,  by  executive  order,  for  Shoshonis  and  Pahutes. 

1872  Colville  Indian  Reservation  in  Washington  was  set  aside  by  Presi- 
dent Grant,  by  executive  order,  for  Kutenais,  Pend  Oreilles,  Colville 
and  Spokane  Indians. 

1872  Boise  City  land  district  was  created  which  contained  all  Tdaho  south 
of  the  Salmon  River  range  of  mountains. 


IDAHO   CHRONOLOGY  23 

1872  Lewiston  land  district  was  created  which  contained  all  Idaho  north 
of  the  Salmon  Eiver  range  of  mountains. 

1872  United  States  assay  office  and  penitentiary  buildings  were  com- 
pleted and  began  operations. 

1872  National  election:  U.  S.  Grant,  Republican,  was  elected  President 
for  a  second  term,  and  John  Hailey,  Democrat,  delegate  to  the 
Forty-third  Congress. 

1872  Seventh  session  of  the  Territorial  Legislature  met  at  Boise  on 
December  2d  with  thirty-nine  members. 

1873  Coeur  d'Alene  Indian  Reservation  was  set  aside  by  President  Grant, 
by  executive  order,  for  the  Coeur  d'Alene  and  Spokane  Indians. 

1873-77  Dullest  years  in  the  history  of  Idaho  and  little  or  no  progress 
was  made  in  the  Territory. 

1874  First  railroad  to  enter  the  Territory  was  the  Utah  Northern,  a 
narrow  gauge,  built  by  a  Utah  company  to  Franklin.  Idaho. 

1874  Territorial  election:  Stephen  S.  Fenn,  Democrat,  was  elected  dele- 
gate to  the  Forty-fourth  Congress. 

1874  Eighth  session  of  the  Territorial  Legislature  met  at  Boise  on  Decem- 
ber 7th  with  thirtv-eight  members. 

1875  First  revision  and  compilation  of  all  the  public  laws  of  Idaho, 
which  were  then  in  force  in  the  Territory,  was  made. 

1875  Tenth  county  created  in  Idaho  was  Bear  Lake,  with  Paris  the 
county  seat,  including  the  southeastern  part  of  Oneida  County. 

1875  Lemhi  Indian  Reservation  was  set  aside  by  President  Grant,  by 
executive  order,   from   Shoshonis,   Bannacks  and  Tukuarikas. 

1875  Fifth  territorial  governor  of  Idaho  was  David  P.  Thompson,  Repub- 
lican, of  Oregon,  who  was  appointed  by  President  Grant. 

1876  Sixth  territorial  governor  of  Idaho  was  Mayson  Brayman,  Repub- 
lican, of  Wisconsin,  who  was  appointed  by  President  Grant. 

1876     Centennial  of  American  independence  was  held  at  Philadelphia,  but 

there  was  no  display  of  Idaho  products  thereat. 
1876     National  election:     R.  B.  Hayes,  Republican,  was  elected  President, 

and  Stephen  S.  Fenn,  Democrat,  delegate  for  a  second  term  and  to 

the  Forty-fifth  Congress. 

1876  Ninth  session  of  the  Territorial  Legislature  met  at  Boise  on  Decem- 
ber 4th  with  thirty-nine  members. 

1877  National  desert  land  act  for  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of 
arid  lands  was  passed  by  Congress  and  proved  a  wonderful  benefit 
in  reclaiming  lands  in  Idaho  by  irrigation. 

1877  Nez  Perce  Indian  war:  Five  hundred  warriors  under  Chief  Joseph's 
command  went  on  the  warpath  because  the  National  Government 
opened  to  settlement  the  Wallowa  Valley.  Oregon,  which  the  non- 
treaty  Indians  claimed  as  an   inheritance. 

1877  June  17th,  battle  of  White  Bird  Creek  Canyon,  Idaho:  Captain  D. 
Perry  in  command,  with  ninety-nine  soldiers,  eleven  volunteers; 
Indians  double  that  number.  Perry  defeated  with  loss  of  thirty-four 
killed,  two  wounded. 


24  IDAHO   CHRONOLOGY 

1877  July  11  tli  and  12th,  battle  of  Clearwater,  Idaho:  General  0.  O. 
Howard  in  command,  with  400  soldiers;  Indians,  300.  Indians 
defeated  with  loss  of  23  killed,  23  captured;  Howard  loss,  13  killed, 
27   wounded. 

1677  August  Oth,  battle  of  Bighole,  Montana:  Colonel  John  Gibbon  in 
command,  with  146  soldiers,  34  volunteers.  Gibbon  defeated  with 
loss  of  23  soldiers,  6  volunteers;   Indian  loss,  89  killed. 

1877  September  13th,  battle  of  Canyon  Creek,  Montana:  Colonel  S.  D. 
Sturgis  in  command.  A  running  fight  in  which  both  sides  lost  about 
twenty  men  each. 

1877  September  20th,  battle  of  Bear  Paw  Mountain,  Montana:  Colonel 
Nelson  A.  Miles  in  command  with  double  amount  of  soldiers  to  war- 
riors. Indians  defeated  with  loss  of  6  chiefs,  25  warriors,  40 
wounded ;  Miles'  loss,  2  officers,  29  soldiers,  44  wounded. 

1877  October  5th,  Nez  Perces  surrender  to  Colonel  Miles  100  warriors, 
300  women  and  children,  and  700  ponies.  Four  hundred  and  thirty- 
one  Indians  were  taken  to  the  Indian  Territory. 

1877  Duck  Valley  Indian  Reservation  in  Nevada  and  Idaho  was  set 
apart,  by  executive  order  of  President  Hayes,  for  Shoshonis  and 
Pahutes. 

1878  National  stone  and  timber  act  for  the  acquisition  of  stone  and  timber 
lands  to  the  amount  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  was  enacted  by 
Congress  and  greatly  aided  in  the  material  advancement  of  the 
Territory. 

1878  Bannack  Indian  war:  Bannacks  of  Fort  Hall,  led  by  Chief  Buffalo 
Horn,  and  Pahutes  of  Malheur,  led  by  Chief  Egan,  went  on  the 
warpath  because  the  National  Government  opened  to  settlement 
Camas  Prairie,  which  had  been  reserved  to  the  Indians. 

1878.  June  8th,  battle  of  South  Mountain,  Idaho:  J.  B.  Harper  in  com- 
mand of  35  volunteers;  Indians,  60  strong.  Volunteers  defeated 
with  loss  of  four  men.       Chief  Buffalo  was  killed. 

1878  June  23d,  battle  of  Cedar  Mountain,  Oregon:  Captain  R.  F. 
Bernard  in  command  with  four  companies  of  cavalry  and  twenty- 
five  scouts  under  Colonel  Rube  Rob-bins.  Indians  defeated  with  loss 
of  100  killed.     Four   soldiers   and  one   scout   killed. 

1878  July  2d,  battle  of  Umatilla,  Oregon:  Major  N.  A.  Cornoyer  with 
command  of  loyal  Umatilla  Indians.  Enemy  400  strong.  Enemy 
defeated  with  loss  of  39  killed ;   Umatilla  loss,  2. 

1878  July  8th,  battle  of  Birch  Creek,  Oregon:  Colonels  Bernard  and 
Bobbins  in  command.     Indians  defeated  and  many  killed. 

1878  July  13th,  battle  of  Pendleton,  Oregon:  Captain  Evan  Miles  in 
command  with  125  soldiers  and  some  volunteers.  Indians  400 
strong.  Indians  defeated  with  loss  of  twenty  killed;  two  soldiers 
wounded. 

1878  July  15th,  battle  of  Meacham,  Oregon:  Chief  Homily  with  ninety 
of  his  loyal  Umatillas  defeated  the  enemy,  killing  Chief  Egan  and 
thirty  of  his  warriors. 

1878     July  17th,  battle  of  Wolf  Creek,  Oregon:     Major  G.  B.  Sanford  in 


IDAHO   CHRONOLOGY  25 

command.  Indians  defeated.  Seventeen  warriors  killed,  twenty- 
five  men,  women  and  children  captured. 
1878  September  5th,  battle  of  Clarks'  Ford,  Oregon:  Twenty  Bannack 
lodges  attacked  and  all  women  and  children  killed.  Several  hun- 
dred surrendered  to  the  War  Department  of  Oregon  and  the  rem- 
nants  returned  to  their   reservations. 

1878  Territorial  election:  George  Ainslie,  Democrat,  was  elected  dele- 
gate to  the  Forty-sixth  Congress. 

1879  Tenth  session  of  the  Territorial  Legislature  met  at  Boise  on  January 
13th  with  thirty -nine  members. 

1879  Eleventh  county  created  in  Idaho  was  Cassia,  with  Albion  the  county 
seat,  including  the  eastern  part  of  Owyhee  County. 

1879  Twelfth  county  created  in  Idaho  was  Washington,  with  Weiser  the 
county  seat,  including  the  northwestern  part  of  Ada  County. 

1879  Fort  Sherman  and  a.  military  reservation  of  one  thousand  acres 
was  established  on  Coeur  d'Alene  Lake  and  regularly  garrisoned 
with  five  companies  of  soldiers. 

1879  Sheepeater  Indian  war:  Roiegade  Bannacks  and  Tukuarika  Indians 
went  on  the  warpath  because  the  Government  failed  to  furnish  them 
supplies. 

1879  July  28th,  battle  of  Big  Creek,  Idaho:  Lieutenant  Catley  in  com- 
mand of  forty-nine  soldiers.  Indians  one  hundred  strong.  Catley 
withdrew  from  the  fight  with  loss  of  one  man  and  some  supplies. 

1879  August  20th,  battle  of  Loon  Creek,  Idaho;  Lieutenant  E.  S.  Farrow 
in  command.  Worsted  the  Indians  and  captured  some  horses  and 
supplies. 

1879  September  1st,  Sheepeater  band,  consisting  of  sixty  warriors,  sur- 
rendered at  Seven  Devils,  Idaho,  to  Lieutenant  Farrow,  who  took 
them  to  Vancouver,  Washington. 

1879  End  to  all  Indian  wars  in  Idaho  was  made  when  the  hostile  band 
of  Sheepeaters  surrendered  and  were  dispersed. 

1879  First  railroad  completed  in  Idaho  was  the  Utah  Northern,  which 
crossed  the  southeastern  part  of  the  Territory. 

1879  Oneida  land  district  was  created,  which  contained  all  Idaho  east  of 
the  range  line  between  23  and  24  Boise  meridian  and  of  the  west 
side  line  of  Lemhi  County,  with  Oxford  the  land  office. 

1879  Mormon  people  from  Utah  began  the  settlement  and  cultivation  of 
the  Snake  River  Valley  from  Idaho  Falls  to  the  source  of  the  river. 

1880  Seventh  territorial  governor  of  Idaho  was  John  B.  Neil,  Republican, 
of  Iowa,  who  was  appointed  by  President  Hayes. 

1880     Placer  gold  was  discovered  in  paying  quantities  in  the  Coeur  d'Alene 

country  by  prospectors  .led  by  A.  J.  Pritchard. 
1880     Second  census  of  Idaho  was  taken  by  the  tenth  census  enumerator 

showing  a  population  of  32,019,  or  .38  person  to  the  square  mile. 
18S0     Quartz  mining  industry  was  given  an  impetus  by  the  opening  of  the 

lead-silver  mines  of  the  Wood  River  district. 
1880     National   election:     J.   A.   Garfield,   Republican,    was   elected   Presi- 


y 


2G  IDAHO   CHRONOLOGY 

dent,  and  George  Ainslie,  Democrat,  delegate  for  a  second  term  and 
to  the  Forty-seventh  Congress. 

1S80  Eleventh  session  of  the  Territorial  Legislature  met  at  Boise  on 
December   13th  with  thirty-six  members. 

1881  Historical  society  of  Idaho  pioneers  was  formed  to  collect  and  pre- 
serve a  reliable  history  of  the  early  settlement  of  the  Territory. 

1881  History  of  Idaho  by  Robert  E.  Strahorn  was  published  and  distrib- 
uted by  legislative  enactment. 

1881  Thirteenth  county  created  in  Idaho  was  Custer,  with  Challis  the 
county  seat,  including  the  western  part  of  Lemhi  and  the  northern 
part  of  Alturas  counties. 

1881  Fourteenth  county  organized  in  Idaho  was  Kootenai,  with  Rathdrum 
the  county  seat,  including  the  Panhandle  country. 

1881  First  daily  paper  published  in  Idaho  was  the  Hailey  Times,  edited 
by  T.  E.  Picotte  of  Hailey. 

1882  Smelter  erected  on  the  famous  Viola  mine  at  Nicholia  in  Lemhi 
County,  which  for  five  years  produced  an  enormous  amount  of  lead. 

.1882  Territorial  election :  Theodore  F.  Singiser,  Republican,  was  elected 
delegate  to  the  Forty-eighth  Congress. 

1882  Twelfth  session  of  the  Territorial  Legislature  met  at  Poise  on  Decem- 
ber 1  lth  with  thirty-six  members. 

1 883  ,  Eighth  territorial  governor  of  Idaho  was  John  N.  Irwin,  Republican, 

of  Iowa,  who  was  appointed  by  President  Arthur. 
1883     Annual  teachers'  institutes,  to  be  held  thruout  the  various  counties 

of  the  Territory,  was  made  the  law. 
1883     Northern  Pacific  Railroad  was  completed  across  the  northern  part 

of  the  Territory,  making  better  transportation  facilities. 

1883  First  Grand  Lodge  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  was 
organized  at  Boise. 

1884  Lead  mines  of  the  Coeur  d'Alene  region,  which  developed  into  the 
greatest  lead  producing  region  of  the  world,  wTas  discovered. 

1884  Oregon  Short  Line  Railroad  completed  across  the  southwestern  part 
of  the  Territory,  opening  Idaho  to  commerce. 

1884  Ninth  territorial  governor  of  Idaho  was  William  M.  Bunn,  Repub- 
lican, of  Pennsylvania,  who  was  appointed  by  President  Arthur. 

1884  National  election:  Grover  Cleveland,  Democrat,  was  elected  Presi- 
dent, and  John  Hailey,  Democrat,  delegate  for  a  second  term  and  to 
the  Forty-ninth  Congress. 

1884  Thirteenth  session  of  the  Territorial  Legislature  met  at  Boise  on 
December   8th   with  thirty-six   members. 

1885  Fifteenth  county  created  in  Idaho  was  Bingham,  with  Blackfoot 
the  county  seat,  including  the  northern  and  eastern  parts  of  Oneida 
County. 

1885     Capitol  building  to  be  constructed  in  Boise  at  an  expense  of  $80,000 

was  voted  by  the  Legislature. 
1885     Insane  asylum,  to  be  located  at  Blackfoot,  where  a  building  costing 

$20,000  was  to  be  erected,  was  voted  by  the  Legislature. 
1885     Elector's    oath    against    the    doctrinal     rite    of    bigamy,    polygamy, 


IDAHO   CHRONOLOGY  27 

plural  and  celestial  marriages,  or  the  Mormon  tost  oath,  was  enacted 
into  law.  , 

1885  First  display  of  Idaho  products  at  a  world's  fair  was  at  the  New 
Orleans  Exposition,  where  many  medals  were  received. 

1885  Tenth  territorial  governor  of  Idaho  was  Edward  A.  Stevenson,  Demo- 
crat, first  resident  of  Idaho  to  occupy  the  position,  appointed  by 
President  Cleveland. 

1885  United  States  land  districts  and  offices,  as  follows:  Blackfoot,  all 
Idaho  east  of  36°  W.  longitude;  Hailey,  all  Idaho  between  36°  and 
38°  30'  W.  longitude,  extending  from  42°  N.  latitude  to  Salmon 
River;  Boise,  all  Idaho  west  of  38°  30'  W.  longitude,  extending  from 
42°  N.  latitude  to  Salmon  River  and  45°  30'  N.  latitude;  Lewiston, 
all  Idaho  between  Salmon  River  and  45°  30'  N.  latitude  to  47°  N. 
latitude;  Coeur  d'Alene,  all  Idaho  between  47°  and  49°  N.  latitude. 

1885  Joseph's  band  of  Nez  Perce  Indians  were  permitted  to  leave  Indian 
Territory  and  go  upon  the  Colville  (Washington)  Reservation. 

188G  Utah  Northern  Railroad  was  made  a  broad  gauge,  merged  with  the 
Oregon  Short  Line,  all  belonging  to  the  Union  Pacific  System. 

1886  Bill  to  ann£x  north  Idaho  to  Washington  Territory  was  passed  by 
Congress,  but  failed  to  become  a  law,  as  the  President  did  not 
sign  it. 

1886  Territorial  election:  Fred  T.  Dubois,  Republican,  was  elected  dele- 
gate to  the  Fiftieth  Congress. 

1886  Fourteenth  session  of  the  Territorial  Legislature  met  at  Boise  on 
December  13th  with  thirty-six  members. 

1887  Revised  statutes  of  Idaho,  consisting  of  four  codes  divided  into 
parts,  titles,  chapters,  articles  and  sections,  was  adopted. 

1887     Practice  of  pharmacy  was  regulated  by  statute  within  the  Territory. 
1887     Practice  of  medicine  and  surgery  was  regulated  by  statute  within 

the  Territory. 
1887     Compulsory  education  law  was  passed  by  the  Territorial  Legislature 

compelling  attendance  at  common  schools. 
1887     Arbor   Day  was   designated   as   a  time   for   planting  and   cultivating 

trees  within  the  Territory. 
1887     Fee  system  of  paying  county  officers  was  adopted  and  a   minimum 

and  maximum  limit  placed  on  their  compensation. 

1887  Edmunds-Tucker  act  disfranchised  thousands  of  Mormons  and  many 
were  convicted  of  polygamy  and  unlawful  cohabitation. 

1888  Sixteenth  county  in  Idaho  was  Latah,  created  by  congressional  enact- 
ment out  of  the  southern  portion  of  Kootenai  County,  with  Moscow 
the  county  seat. 

1888  United  Stntes  Geological  Survey  established  an  office  at  Boise,  with 
Arthur  D.  W.  Foote  in  charge,  to  make  investigations  of  the  arid 
regions  of  the  Territory  and  the  necessity  of  hydraulic  works. 

1888  National  election:  Benjamin  Harrison.  Republican,  was  elected 
President,  and  Fred  T.  Dubois.  Republican,  delegate  for  a  second 
term   and   to  the   Fifty-first  Congre—. 


* 


28  IDAHO   CHRONOLOGY 

1888  Fifteenth  and  last  session  of  the  Territorial  Legislature  met  at 
Boise  on  December  10th  with  thirty-six  members. 

1889  University  of  Idaho  for  acquiring  knowledge  in  scientific,  industrial 
and  professional  pursuits  was  established  at  Moscow. 

1880  Seventeenth  county  created  in  Idaho  was  Elmore,  with  Rocky  Bar 
the  county  seat,  including  the  southwestern  part  of  Alturas  County. 

1880  Eighteenth  county  created  in  Idaho  was  Logan,  with  Shoshone  the 
county  seat,  including  the  southern  part  of  Alturas  County. 

1880  Idaho  Legislature  petitioned  Congress  against  statehood  for  Utah 
on  the  ground  that  the  Mormons  practiced  polygamy  and  unlawful 
cohabitation  and  that  the  teachings  of  the  Mormon  Church  were 
treasonable. 

1880  Position  of  county  school  superintendent  could  be  occupied  by  women 
as  well  as  by  men. 

1880  Eleventh  territorial  governor  of  Idaho  was  George  L.  Shoup,  Repub- 
lican, who  was  appointed  by  President  Harrison,  and  served  as  the 
last  territorial  governor. 

1880  Constitutional  convention  composed  of  sixty-eight  members  met  at 
Boise,  July  4th,  and  after  laboring  twenty-eight  days,  formed  a 
constitution  for  the  State  of  Idaho  and  adopted  it  on  August  6th. 

1880  Constitution  was  adopted  by  the  people  at  an  election  held  on 
November  5th  by  a  vote  of  12,308  for  and  1,773  against. 

STATE    OF   IDAHO 
1890-1918 

1800  July  3d.  Idaho  was  admitted  as  the  forty-third  State  of  the  Amer- 
ican Union,  which  marked  the  beginning  of  an  era  of  progress  and 
development. 

1800  Constitution  formed  the  following  judicial  districts:  First,  Shoshone 
and  Kootenai ;  Second,  Latah,  Nez  Perce  and  Idaho ;  Third,  Wash- 
ington, Ada,  Boise  and  Owyhee;  Fourth,  Cassia,  E,lmore,  Logan  and 
Alturas ;  Fifth,  Bear  Lake,  Bingham,  Oneida,  Lemhi  and  Custer. 

1800  One  Federal  judicial  district  of  the  Ninth  Circuit  Court  was 
formed  of  Idaho,  with  James  H.  Beatty  judge,  sitting  at  Boise. 

1800  First  extensive  irrigation  system  of  Idaho  constructed  for  the 
watering  of  arid  lands  was  the  Phyllis  and  New  York  canals  of  Ada 
County. 

1800  Third  census  of  Idaho  was  taken  by  the  eleventh  census  enumera- 
tors, showing  a  population  of  88,548,  or  1.1  persons  to  the  square 
mile. 

1800  Federal  forest  reserve  act,  giving  the  President  the  power  to  set 
apart  at  any  time  public  lands  in  any  State  or  Territory  as  a  public 
reservation,  was  enacted. 

1800  Four  terms  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Idaho  must  be  held  annually, 
two  terms  at  Boise  and  two  terms  at  Lewiston. 


IDAHO   CHRONOLOGY  29 

1890     Great  Northern  Railroad  was  completed  across  the  north  part  of  the 

State,  giving  better  transportation  facilities. 
1890     First    State    election:      Willis    Sweet,    Republican,    elected    congress- 
man to  the  Fifty-second  Congress,  and  George  L.  Shoup,  Republican, 

governor  of  the  State. 
1890     Vote    for    governor,    October    1st:     Republican,    10,202;    Democrat, 

7,948.     Total,  18,210.     Republican  plurality,  2,314. 
1890     First  session  of  the  State  Legislature  met  at  Boise  on  December  8th 

with  fifty-four  members;  Republican  majority. 
1890     First  United  States   senator   for  Idaho  was  William  J.  McConnell, 

Republican,  who  was  elected  by  the  State  Legislature  to  serve  until 

March  4,   1891. 
1890     George  L.  Shoup,  Republican,  was  elected  by  the  State  Legislature 

a  United  States  senator  for  Idaho  to  serve  until  March  4,  1895. 
1890     Fred  T.   Dubois,   Republican,  was  elected  by  the   State  Legislature 

a  United  States  senator  for  Idaho  to  serve  until  March  4,  1897. 

1890  Legislature  accepted  the  benefits  of  the  acts  of  Congress  providing 
for  a  State  agricultural  college  and  experimental  station  for  teaching 
methods  of  farming  and  husbandry  and  located  the  institution  at 
Moscow. 

1891  High  license  principle  for  regulating  the  sale  of  intoxicating  liquors 
was  enacted. 

1891     Australian  ballot  system,  wherein  there  is  but  one  ballot  used  by 

the  voter  which  he  votes  in  secret,  was  adopted. 
1891     State    Board    of    Land    Commissioners    was    provided,    the    duty    of 

which  was  the  selection,  location,  sale,  rental  and  general  manage- 
ment of  the  public  lands  of  the  State. 
1891     School   district  offices   could  be  occupied  by  women  who   could   also 

vote  at  school  elections. 
1891     Alta   County   was   created,   with    Hailey   the   county  seat,   including 

the  northern  portion  of  Alturas  County. 
1891     Lincoln  County  was  created,  with  Shoshone  the  county  seat,  includ- 
ing the  southern  portion  of  Alturas  County. 
1891     Nineteenth    county    created    in    Idaho    was    Canyon,    with    Caldwell 

the  county  seat,  including  the  western  part  of  Ada   County. 
1891     Eight   hours   actual   work   was  made   to   constitute   a    lawful    day's 

work  on  all   State,  county  and  municipal   works. 
1891     Prosecution  of  criminal  offenses  to  be  by  information   made  by  the 

prosecuting   attorney  and   grand   juries   were   dispensed    with   unless 

ordered   by  the  district   judge. 
1891     In  misdemeanors   and  civil   actions   juries  may  consist  of  twelve  or 

less  by  agreement,   but   three-fourths   may   make   a  verdict   in   civil 

actions   and   five-sixths   in   misdemeanors. 
1891     Great  Seal   of  the   State  of   Idaho,  a   design   drawn   by  Miss   Emma 

Edwards,  with  the  Latin  motto  Esto  Pcrpctua,  was  adopted. 
1891     Standard    weights   and   measures   of   this    State   shall    agree   exactly 

with    the    standards    as    recognized    and    furnished    by    the    United 

States. 


30  IDAHO   CHRONOLOGY 

1891  Free  and  unlimited  coinage  of  silver  for  United  States  product  as 
it  existed  prior  to  demonetization  was  prayed  for  by  the  Legislature 
in  a  memorial  to  Congress. 

18!)  1  Second  and  third  counties  in  Idaho  were  wiped  from  the  map  by 
judicial   interpretation,  the  counties  being  Alta  and  Lincoln. 

1892  Frisco  Mill,  belonging  to  mine  owners  of  the  Coeur  d'Alenes, 
blown  up  with  dynamite  by  union  strikers,  several  persons  being 
killed  and  militia  necessary  to  quiet  the  district. 

1892  Terms  of  the  United  States  District  Court  were  fixed  as  follows: 
Northern  at  Moscow,  central  at  Boise,  and  southern  at  Blackfoot. 

1892  National  election:  Grover  Cleveland,  Democrat,  elected  President 
for  a  second  term;  Willis  Sweet,  Republican,  congressman  for  a 
second  term  and  to  the  Fifty-third  Congress;  and  William  J. 
McConnell,  Republican,  governor  of  the  State. 

1892  Vote  for  governor,  November  8th:  Republican,  8,178;  Democrat, 
0,709;  Populist,  4,805;  Prohibition,  204.  Total,  20,070.  Repub- 
lican plurality,    1,409.  .    . 

1893  Second  session  of  the  State  Legislature  met  at  Boise  on  January  2d 
with  fifty-four  members;   Republican  majority. 

1893  Northern  State  Normal  School  established  at  Lewiston  for  the  pur- 
pose of  training  teachers  in  the  art  of  instruction  in  common  school 
education. 

1893  World's  Columbian  Exposition  was  held  at  Chicago,  where  Idaho 
products  and  resources  were  properly  exhibited  through  a  commis- 
sioner. 

1893  General  pardon  to  all  Mormons,  liable  under  the  Edmunds-Tucker 
act,  on  condition  that  in  future  the  law  would  be  obeyed,  was  issued 
by  President  Harrison. 

1893  Obligations  of  debt,  judgments  and  executions  payable  in  money  shall 
be  payable  in  either  the  standard  silver  or  gold  coin  of  the  United 
States  was  made  the  law. 

1893  Soldiers'  Home  was  established  at  Boise  for  honorably  discharged 
Union  soldiers,  sailors  and  marines  who  served  in  the  War  of  the 
Rebellion. 

1893  Twentieth  county  created  in  Idaho  was  Fremont,  with  St.  Anthony 
the  county  seat,  including  the  northern  part  of  Bingham  County. 

1893  Inspector  of  mines  was  created  to  examine  into  and  inspect  the  work- 
ing conditions  of  all  mines  in  the  State. 

1893  System  of  State  wagon  roads,  to  be  constructed  principally  along  the 
Salmon  River  and  to  connect  southern  and  northern  Idaho,  was 
enacted  by  the  Legislature. 

1893  Twenty-first  county  created  in  Idaho  was  Bannock,  with  Pocatello 
the  county  seat,  including  the  southern  part  of  Bingham  County. 

1893  Southern  State  Normal  School  established  at  Albion  for  the  purpose 
of  training  teachers  in  the  art  of  instruction  in  common  school  educa- 
tion. 

1803  Free  and  unlimited  coinage  of  silver  as  it  existed  prior  to  the 
demonetization  act,  for  the  relief  Of  all  business,  industry  and  tax- 


IDAHO   CHRONOLOGY  31. 

paying  citizens,  was  prayed  for  in  a  legislative  memorial  to  Congress; 

1893  Uniform  system  of  text  books  for  the  public  schools  of  the  State  was 
adopted. 

1893  First  comprehensive  game  law  for  the  State  was  enacted  for  the  pro- 
tection of  the  fish  and  game  of  the  State. 

1893  Three  electoral  votes  of  Idaho  were  cast  for  James  B.  Weaver,  the 
Populist  presidential  candidate. 

1893  Repeal  of  the  purchasing  clause  of  the  coinage  act,  providing  for  the 
purchase  of  silver  bullion  by  the  Government,  caused  such  a  decline 
in  silver  as  to  close  many  silver  and  lead  mines. 

1893  National  monetary  panic  crippled  many  industries  and  caused  a 
stagnation  in  all  businesses. 

1894  Carey  act  by  Congress  donated  to  arid  States  one  million  acres  of 
public  lands  to  be  reclaimed  by  the  State  and  disposed  of  by  it  for 
its  own  use  and  benefit. 

1894  Nez  Perce  Indian  Reservation  was  allotted  to  the  Indians  in  severalty 
and  the  surplus  sold  for  their  benefit.  *[ 

1894  State  election:  Edgar  Wilson,  Republican,  was  elected  congressman 
to  the  Fifty-fourth  Congress,  and  William  J.  McConnell,  Republican, 
governor  for  a  second  term.  -..  r 

1894  Vote  for  governor,  November  Gth:  Republican,  10,208;  Populist, 
7,121;  Democrat,  7,057.     Total,  24,386.     Republican  plurality,  3,087, 

1894  First  amendment  to  the  State  constitution  adopted,  segregating  the 
offices  of  probate  judge  and  county  school  superintendent. 

1895  Third  session  of  the  State  Legislature  met  at  Boise  on  January  7th 
with  fifty-four  members;  Republican  majority. 

1895     Age  of  consent  was  raised  to  eighteen  years  and  licenses  henceforth 

required  by  those  entering  the  marriage  state.  t *-«*'? 

1895     Monetary  system  of  Idaho  was  placed  upon  the  gold  basis  and  all  con- 
tracts for  money  reduced  to  the  gold  standard. 
1895     George  L.   Shoup  was   re-elected  by  the  State  Legislature  a.  United 

States  senator  to  serve  until  March  4,  1901. 
1895     Fourth  and  fifth  counties  of  Idaho  wiped  from  the  map  by  legislative 

enactment,  the  counties  being  Alturas  and  Logan. 
1895     System  of  locating  mining  claims   was   radically  changed,   requiring 

the  locator  to  sink  a  shaft  at  least  ten  feet  on  his  ledge  within  sixty 

days. 
1895     Mormon  test  oath  was  repealed  by  the  State  Legislature. 
1895     A  substitute  county  created   in   Idaho  was  Blaine,   with   Hailey  the 

county  seat,  including  all  of  what  was  Alturas  and  Logan  counties. 
1895     Comprehensive    irrigation    law,    providing    for    a    uniform    system    of 

appropriation,  distribution  and  use  of  the  public  waters  of  the  State. 

was  enacted. 
1895     Office  of  state  engineer  was  created  to  gather  facts  relating  to  water-   \tf. 

wrays   and   irrigable   lands   and   to   supervise   the   distribution   of   the 

public  waters. 
1895     Office    of    state    sheep    inspector   was    created    whose    duties    were    to 

attend  to  the  sheep  industry  of  the  State. 


32  IDAHO   CHRONOLOGY 

1895  A  substitute  county  created  in  Idaho  was  Lincoln,  with  Shoshone  the 
county  seat,  including  the  southern  portion  of  Blaine  County. 

1895  Election  of  United  States  senators  by  direct  vote  of  the  people  was 
proposed  as  an  amendment  to  the  United  States  Constitution  by  the 
State  Legislature  in  a  memorial  to  Congress. 

1896  Idaho  became  the  first  State  in  the  Union  in  the  production  of  lead. 
1896     Culmination  of  differences  and  clash  between  the  cattle  and  sheep 

industries,  resulting  in  the  murder,  of  sheep  herders  by  Diamondfield 
Jack   (Davis),  in  Cassia  County. 

1896  Free  and  unlimited  coinage  of  silver  by  the  United  States  at  the 
ratio  of  16  to  1  became  the  paramount  issue  in  the  campaign. 

1896  National  election:  William  McKinley,  Republican,  was  elected 
President;  James  Gunn,  Populist,  congressman  to  the  Fifty-fifth  Con- 
gress ;  and  Frank  Steunenberg,  Democrat,  governor  of  the  State. 

1896  Vote  for  President,  November  3d:  Democrat,  23,192;  Republican, 
6,324;  Prohibition,  179.     Total,  29,695.     Democrat  plurality,  16,868. 

1896  Second  amendment  to  the  State  constitution  adopted,  extending  to 
women  the  equal  right  of  suffrage,  being  the  third  State  of  the  Union 
to  do  so. 

1896  Third  amendment  to  the  State  constitution  adopted,  providing  for 
county  attorneys  instead  of  district  attorneys. 

1896  Fourth  amendment  to  the  State  constitution  adopted,  eliminating  the 
necessity  of  an  election  of  township,  precinct  and  municipal  officers. 

1897  Fourth  session  of  the  State  Legislature  met  at  Boise  on  January  4th 
with  seventy  members ;  Demo-Populist  majority. 

1897     Buffalo   and    bison    within    the   State    were    protected   by   legislative 

enactment. 
1897     Anti-gambling   law,   prohibiting   gambling   and   providing  a   penalty 

for  its  violation,  was  enacted. 
1897     Legal  rate  of  interest  was  made  7  per  cent  per  annum,  but  parties 

may  agree,  in  writing,  to  12  per  cent. 
1897     Parole  of  convicts  of  the   State  penitentiary  was  provided  for,  the 

power  being  placed  in  the  Board  of  Pardons. 
1897     Board  of  Horticultural  Inspection  was  created  with  duties  to  protect 

trees  and  plants  of  the  State. 
1897     State   Board   of  Medical  Examiners  was   provided   by   law,  and  the 

practice  of  medicine  and  surgery  was  regulated. 
1897     State  Board  of  Arbitration  created  with  duties  to  settle  differences 

between  employers  and  employes  by  arbitration. 
1897     Henry  Heitfeld,  Democrat,  was  elected  by  the   State  Legislature  a 

United  States  senator  to  serve  until  March  4,  1903. 
1897     International  monetary  conference  and  agreement  on  bimetallism  was 

vigorously   protested    against   by   the   Legislature    in   a   memorial   to 

Congress. 
1897     Secretary  of  mines  and  mining  as  a  member  of  the  President's  cabinet 

was  prayed  for  by  the  Legislature  in  a  memorial  to  Congress. 
1897     Three  electoral  votes  of  Idaho  were  cast  for  William  J.  Bryan,  the 

Democratic  presidential   candidate. 


IDAHO  CHRONOLOGY  33 

1897  Women  first  empaneled  as  jurors  in  Idaho  in  a  case  tried  at  Boise. 

1898  First  Idaho  Regiment  of  Infantry  Volunteers  organized  and  mus- 
tered into  service  for  Spanish-American  War  at  call  of  President 
McKinley. 

1898  Fort  Hall  Indian  Reservation  was  allotted  to  the  Indians  in  severalty 
of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  each  of  farming  and  grazing  lands 
and  the  surplus  sold  for  their  benefit. 

1898  Trans-Mississippi  International  Exposition  at  Omaha  was  held,  at 
which  Idaho  made  a  display  of  many  products. 

1898  State  election:  Edgar  Wilson,  Silver  Republican,  was  elected  con- 
gressman for  a  second  term  and  to  the  Fifty-sixth  Congress,  and 
Frank  Steunenberg,  Fusionist,  re-elected  governor  of  the  State. 

1898  Vote  for  governor,  November  8th:  Fusionist,  19,407;  Republican, 
13,794;  Prohibition,  1,175.     Total,  34,370.     Fusionist  majority,  5,013. 

1898  Fifth  amendment  to  the  State  constitution  adopted,  requiring  that  a 
new  county  shall  not  be  created  which  has  less  than  $1,000,000  of 
taxable  property. 

1898  Sixth  amendment  to  the  State  constitution  adopted,  changing  the 
method  of  paying  county  officers  their  compensation  from  a  fee  to  a 
salary  system. 

1899  Fifth  session  of  the  State  Legislature  met  at  Boise  on  January  2d 
with  seventy  members;  Fusionist  majority. 

1899  Commissioner  of  immigration,  labor  and  statistics  created  whose  duty 
was  to  collect  and  compile  reliable  data  of  the  various  resources, 
industries  and  wage  conditions  of  the  State. 

1899  State  fish  and  game  warden  was  created  whose  duties  were  to  enforce 
all  laws  relating  to  fish  and  game. 

1899  Board  of  Dental  Examiners  was  created  to  make  rules  for  the  prac- 
tice of  dentistry  and  issue  licenses  therefor. 

1899  Construction  of  the  Nicaragua  Canal  was  prayed  for  in  a  memorial 
to  Congress  by  the  Legislature. 

1899  American  line  of  merchant  marine  was  prayed  for  in  a  memorial  to 
Congress  by  the  Legislature. 

1899  Wardner  riot  in  the  Coeur  d'Alenes  occurred  in  which  property  and 
people  were  dynamited  by  union  strikers,  which  insurrection  required 
Federal  troops  to  suppress  by  locking  the  strikers  in  bull  pens. 

1900  Idaho  Industrial  Institute  located  at  Weiser  for  the  purpose  of  giv- 
ing education  of  the  hand  as  well  as  of  the  head. 

1900  Last  decade  a  prosperous  period  in  agricultural  development,  making 
farming  the  chief  source  of  wealth  instead  of  mining,  which  had  been 
the  main  industry  of  the  State  up  to  this  time. 

1900  Fourth  census  of  Idaho  was  taken  by  the  twelfth  census  enumera- 
tors, showing  a  population  of  101,772,  or  1.9  persons  to  the  square 
mile. 

1900  Paris  Exposition  in  France  was  held  at  which  many  Idaho  products 
were  exhibited  and  prizes  awarded  therefor. 

19Q0  National  election:  William  McKinley,  Republican,  re-elected  Presi- 
dent; Thomas  L.  Glenn,  Democrat,  congressman  to  the  Fifty-seventh 
Congress;  and  Frank  Hunt,  Democrat,  governor  of  the  State. 

3 


34  IDAHO   CHRONOLOGY 

1900  Vote  for  President,  November  6th:  Democrat,  29,414;  Republican, 
20,997;   Prohibition,  857;   Populist,  213.     Total,  57,481.     Democrat 

plurality,  2,210. 

1900  [Seventh  amendment  to  the  *State  constitution  adopted,  providing  that 
the  educational  funds  could  be  loaned  on  school  district  bonds  and 
State   warrants. 

1901  Sixth  session  of  the  State  Legislature  met  at  Boise  on  January  7th 
with  seventy  members;  Fusionist  majority. 

1901  Fred  T.  Dubois,  Democrat,  elected  by  the  State  Legislature  a  United 
States  senator  for  a  second  term  to  serve  until  March  4,  1907. 

1901  Free  traveling  library  established  and  a  traveling  library  committee 
formed  to  distribute  libraries  thruout  the  State. 

1901  Supreme  Court  decisions  of  Idaho  in  the  form  of  "Reports"  was  pro- 
vided for  and  their  publication  ordered. 

1901  Idaho  Technical  Institute  was  established  at  Pocatello  for  instruction 
in  vocational  and  technical  subjects. 

1901  Insurance  commissioner,  whose  duties  are  to  attend  to  matters  relat- 
ing to  insurance  and  insurance  companies,  was  provided. 

1901  Labor  commissioner,  with  duties  and  powers  to  investigate  labor 
troubles  and  adjust  them  by  arbitration,  was  provided. 

1901  Clearwater  County  was  created,  with  Oro  Fino  the  county  seat, 
including  parts  of  Shoshone  and  Nez  Perce  counties. 

1901  Regulations  prohibiting  Chinese  and  Japanese  immigration  was 
prayed  for  in  a  memorial  to  Congress  by  the  Legislature. 

1901  Application  for  Congress  to  call  a  national  convention  to  amend  the 
United  States  Constitution  by  providing  for  the  election  of  President, 
Vice-President  and  United  States  senators  by  popular  vote  was  made 
by  Idaho's  Legislature. 

1901  Three  electoral  votes  of  Idaho  were  cast  for  William  J.  Bryan,  the 
Democratic  presidential  candidate. 

1901  Sixth  county  of  Idaho  wiped  from  the  map  by  judicial  interpretation, 
the  county  being  Clearwater. 

L901  Pan-American  Exposition  at  Buffalo,  New  York,  was  held  and  Idaho 
products  were  exhibited  by  a  commissioner. 

1901  International  Mining  Congress  held  at  Boise,  after  which  the  State's 
mineral  exhibit  thereat  was  made  permanent. 

1901  Thunder  Mountain  excitement,  in  which  rich  discoveries  of  gold 
quartz  were  made  in  Idaho  County,  created  a  stampede. 

1902  Reclamation  act,  providing  moneys  received  from  the  sale  of  public 
lands  be  expended  for  the  construction  and  maintenance  of  irrigation 
works  and  storage  of  water  for  arid  lands,  was  enacted  by  Congress. 

1902  State  election:  Burton  L.  French,  Republican,  elected  congressman 
to  the  Fifty-eighth  Congress,  and  John  T.  Morrison,  Republican,  gov- 
ernor of  the  State. 

1902  Vote  for  governor,  November  4th:  Republican,  31,874;  Democrat, 
26,021;  Socialist,  1,737;  Prohibition,  637.  Total,  00,209.  Repub- 
lican plurality,  5,858. 

1902     Eighth  amendment  to  the  State  constitution  adopted,  providing  that 


IDAHO   CHRONOLOGY  35 

the  Legislature  shall  pass  laws  to  provide  for  the  health  and  safety 

of  employes  in  factories,  smelters,  mines  and  ore  reduction  works. 
1903     Seventh  session  of  the  State  Legislature  met  at  Boise  on  January  5th 

with  sixty-seven  members;  Republican  majority. 
1903     YVeldon  B.  Heyburn,  Republican,  was  elected  by  the  State  Legislature 

a  United  States  senator  to  serve  until  March  4,  1909. 
1903     Idaho  Industrial  Training  School  established  at  St.  Anthony  as   a 

reform   school    for   the   care,   protection,   training   and   education   of 

delinquent,  dependent  and  neglected  children. 
1903     Bounty  on  beet  sugar  resulted  in  the  successful  cultivation  of  sugar 

beets  and  the  manufacture  of  beet  sugar  in  the  southeastern  part  of 

the  State. 
1903     Dairy,    food    and    sanitary    inspector   was    provided   with    duties    to 

enforce  the  law  for  the  protection,  manufacture  and  sale  of  dairy 

products,  foods,  drinks,  illuminating  oils  and  sanitation. 
1903     Sixth  Judicial  District  was  formed  composed  of  Fremont,  Bingham, 

Lemhi  and  Custer  counties. 
1903     System  of  license  for  fishing  and  hunting  was  enacted  for  the  pro- 
tection and  maintenance  of  the  laws  relative  to  fish  and  game. 
1903     Xegotiable  instrument  law,  uniform  with  the  law  of  other  States  on 

that  subject,  was  enacted. 
1903     Right  of   way  of  electric   power  transmission  lines   encouraged  the 

utilization  of  electricity  generated  by  water  power  from  rivers  and 

flowing  streams. 
1903     Effective    regulation    and   control   of   great   combinations   of   capital 

called  "trusts"  was  prayed  for  by  the  Legislature  in  a  memorial  to 

Congress. 

1903  Chicago,  Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul  Railroad  was  extended  and  made  a 
transcontinental  line,  crossing  northern  Idaho. 

1904  Louisiana  Purchase  Exposition  at  St.  Louis  was  held  at  which  an 
executive  commissioner  made  an  exhibit  of  the  natural  and  industrial 
products  of  the  State. 

1904  National  election:  Theodore  Roosevelt,  Republican,  elected  Presi- 
dent; Burton  L.  French,  Republican,  congressman  for  a  second  term 
and  to  the  Fifty-ninth  Congress ;  and  Frank  R.  Gooding,  Republican, 
governor  of  the  State. 

1904  Vote  for  President,  November  8th:  Republican,  47,783;  Democrat, 
18,480;  Socialist,  4,949;  Prohibition,  1,013.  Total,  72,225.  Repub- 
lican plurality,  29,303. 

1905  Eighth  session  of  the  State  Legislature  met  at  Boise  on  January  2d 
with  seventy-one  members;  Republican  majority. 

1905  State  Live  Stock  Sanitary  Board  created  to  protect  the  live  stock 
interests  from  theft  and  disease. 

1905  General  uniform  military  law  in  conformity  with  suggestions  fur- 
nished by  the  War  Department  was  enacted  for  the  organization  of 
the  State  militia. 

1905  New  capitol  building  was  authorized  to  be  constructed  at  Boise  for 
legislative,  executive  and  judicial  purposes  at  a  cost  of  $1,000,000. 


36  IDAHO  CHRONOLOGY 

1905     Desecration,  mutilation  or  improper  use  of  the  United  States   flag 

severely  punished  by  statute. 
1905     State   bank   commissioner    was   provided   for    whose   duty   it   was   to 

examine  the  financial  conditions  and  methods  of  the  State  banks. 
1905     Legislature  attempted  to  abolish  Kootenai  County  and  create  Lewis 

and  Clark  counties  therefrom,  but  the  act  was  declared  unconstitu- 
tional by  the  Supreme  Court. 
1905     Northern  Idaho  Insane  Asylum,  for  the  protection  and  care  of  the 

insane,  was  established  at  Orofino. 
1905     Pharmacy  Board  created  to  examine  and  license  all  pharmacists  who 

wished  to  practice  their  profession  in  the  State. 
1905     Seventh  Judicial  District  was  formed,  composed  of  Canyon,  Owyhee 

and  Washington  counties. 
1905     Interstate    commerce    in    adulterated,    misbranded    and    deleterious 

foods,  drugs  and  medicines  prayed  to  be  prohibited  by  Congress  in  a 

memorial  by  the  Legislature. 
1905     Three  electoral  votes  of  Idaho  were  cast  for  Theodore  Roosevelt,  the 

Republican  presidential  candidate. 
1905     Lewis  and  Clark  Exposition  at  Portland,  Oregon,  was  held,  at  which 

a  commissioner  made  a  display  of  objects  illustrating  the  history, 

progress,  moral  and  material  welfare  of  the  State. 
1905     State  Federation  of  Woman's  Clubs  established  at  Boise,  having  for 

its  object  legislation  pertaining  to  civic  improvement,  sanitation,  art 

culture  and  artistic  development. 
1905     Ex-Governor  Frank  Steunenberg  assassinated  by  Harry  Orchard  at 

Caldwell  at  the  instigation  of  the  officers  of  the  Western  Federation 

of  Miners. 
1905     Lemhi  Indians  agreed  to  relinquish  their  reservation  and  remove,  as 

a  tribe,  to  Fort  Hall,  where  they  would  receive  lands  and  an  annual 

money  payment. 

1905  Twin  Falls  Irrigation  Tract,  a  Carey  act  project,  wras  completed, 
reclaiming  several  thousand  acres  of  arid  lands. 

1906  Largest  sawmill  in  the  United  States,  with  a  daily  capacity  of 
750,000  feet,  was  built  by  Weyerhaeuser  syndicate  at  Potlatch,  open- 
ing to  trade  the  vast  lumber  interests. 

1906  Coeur  d'Alene  Indian  Reservation  was  allotted  to  the  Indians  in 
severalty  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  each  and  the  surplus  was 
sold  for  their  benefit. 

1906  State  election:  Burton  L.  French,  Republican,  elected  congressman 
for  a  third  term  and  to  the  Sixtieth  Congress,  and  Frank  R.  Gooding, 
Republican,  re-elected  governor  of  the  State. 

1906  Vote  for  governor,  November  6th:  Republican,  38,386;  Democrat, 
29,496:  Socialist,  4,650;  Prohibition,  1,937.  Total,  73,569.  Repub- 
lican plurality,  8,890. 

1906  Ninth  amendment  to  the  State  constitution  adopted,  providing  that 
the  rate  of  taxation  should  never  exceed  10  mills  on  each  $1  of  assess- 
able valuation. 

1907  Ninth  session  of  the  State  Legislature  met  at  Boise  on  January  7th 
with  seventy-three  members;  Republican  majority. 


IDAHO   CHRONOLOGY  37 

1907     William  E.   Borah,  Republican,  elected  a  United  States  senator  by 

the  Legislature  to  serve  until  March  4,  1913. 
1907     Attempting  to  influence  any  member  of  the  Legislature  to  vote  for 

or  against  any  measure  pending  therein  defined  as  lobbying  and  made 

unlawful. 
1907     Preservation  of  forests  provided  for  by  the  creation  of  fire  wardens 

to  patrol  timber  lands. 
1907     Twenty-second  county  created  in  Idaho  was  Twin  Falls,  with  Twin 

Falls  the  county  seat,  including  the  western  part  of  Cassia  County. 
1907     Twenty-third  county  created  in  Idaho  was  Bonner,  with  Sandpoint  the 

county  seat,  including  the  northern  part  of  Kootenai  County. 
1907     Practice  of  osteopathy,  a  system,  method  or  science  of  treating  dis- 
eases, was  regulated  by  examination  and  registration. 
1907     Preservation   of  the   records,   history,   relics   and  mementoes   of  the 

Grand   Army   of  the  Republic,   Idaho   Department,   provided   for   in 

rooms  at  the  State  house. 
1907     Practice  of  optometry  was  regulated  by  a  board  of  examiners  who 

issue  certificates  of  registration  therefor. 
1907     State   Board   of  Health  created  for  the  purpose  of  collecting  vital 

statistics  and  enforcing  the  laws  of  health. 
1907     Sunday  as  a  day  of  public  rest  was  provided  for,  and  all  places  of 

business  and  public  amusement  closed  and  prohibited. 
1907     Summer  normal  schools  for  training  teachers  were  located  at  Boise, 

Pocatello  and  Coeur  d'Alene. 
1907     Historical  Society  of  Idaho  was  formed  to  collect  and  preserve  all 

things  pertaining  to  the  historical  data  of  the  State. 
1907     State  flag  for  Idaho  was  adopted,  which  was  made  of  blue,  charged 

with  the  name  of  the  State  in  colors. 
1907     State  Fish  Hatchery,  for  the  artificial  propagation  and  distribution 

of  food  and  commercial  fishes,  was  located  on  Silver  Creek,  near  Hay 

Spur,  in  Blaine  County. 
1907     State  Board  of  Highway  Commissioners  was  formed  to  have  control 

and  supervision  of  roads,  bridges  and  trails  constructed  at  the  expense 

of  the  State  and  keep  them  in  proper  repair. 
1907     State  Grain  Commission  was  provided  whose  duty  it  was  to  establish 

standards  for  grain  and  fix  rules  and  regulations  for  grading  and 

weighing  the  same. 
1907     Forest  reserve  policy  of  the  National  Government  as  administered  is 

detrimental  to  the  interests  of  Idaho  was  proclaimed  in  a  memorial 

to  Congress  by  the  Legislature. 
1907     Lemhi  Indians  removed  to  Fort  Hall,  where  they  received  in  sever- 
alty one  hundred  and  sixty  acres  each  of  farming  and  grazing  lands 

on  that  reserve. 
1907     Mover,  Haywood   and   Pettibone.  officers   of  the   Western   Federation 

of  Miners,  were  tried  on  the  charge  of  conspiracy  in  the  murder  of 

ex-Governor  Frank  Steunenberg,  but  the  trial  resulted  in  an  acquittal. 
1907     Minidoka   project  of  Blaine  and   Cassia   counties,   a   Federal   under- 
taking under  the  reclamation  act,  converted  several  thousand  acres 


38  IDAHO   CHRONOLOGY 

of  arid  lands  into  an  irrigable  area  fitted  for  cultivation  and  homes. 

1907  Financial  panic  in  the  nation  interfered  with  business  in  the  State, 
tying  up  the  money  of  the  country  in  the  banks. 

1908  Idaho  Revised  Codes,  a  complete,  simplified  code  of  all  laws  of  the 
State  then  in  force,  was  published. 

1908  First  conference  of  governors  at  the  White  House  in  Washington  was 
held,  at  which  Governor  Frank  R.  Gooding  represented  Idaho. 

1908  Under  President  Roosevelt's  forest  reserve  policy  one-half  of  the 
State  was  organized  into  national  forest  reserves. 

1908  Frank  S.  Dietrich  was  appointed  Federal  judge  of  the  United  States 
District  Court  for  Idaho,  James  W.  Beatty  having  resigned. 

1908  National  election:  William  H.  Taft,  Republican,  elected  President; 
Thomas  R.  Hamer,  Republican,  congressman  to  the  Sixty-iirst  Con- 
gress; and  James  H.  Brady,  Republican,  governor  of  the  State. 

1908  Vote  for  President,  November  3d:  Republican,  52,621;  Democrat, 
36,162;  Socialist,  6,400;  Prohibition,  1,986.  Total,  97,169.  Repub- 
lican plurality,   16,459. 

1908  Tenth  amendment  to  the  State  constitution  adopted,  providing  that 
assessors  and  tax  collectors  be  empowered  to  appoint  deputies  and 
clerical  assistance. 

1909  Tenth  session  of  the  State  Legislature  met  at  Boise  on  January  4th 
witn  seventy-six  members;  Republican  majority. 

1909  Eighth  Judicial  District  was  formed,  composed  of  Kootenai  and 
Bonner  counties. 

1909  Indeterminate  sentence  law  was  enacted  whereby  persons  convicted 
of  felony  should  be  sentenced  a  term  not  less  than  the  minimum,  nor 
more  than  the  maximum,  to  be  determined  by  the  prison  board. 

1909  Local  option  law,  to  regulate,  restrict  and  prohibit  the  sale  of  intox- 
icating liquors  in  the  several  counties  by  vote  of  the  people,  was 
enacted. 

1909  Decoration  and  Labor  days  were  made  holidays  to  be  observed  thru- 
out  the  State. 

1909  Liability  of  employers  and  masters  for  damage  to  employes  injured 
or  killed  in  the  employment  or  service  of  said  employer  or  master 
was  enacted. 

1909  Direct  primary  law  enacted  requiring  a  majority  of  all  votes  to 
nominate  a  candidate  and  providing  a  preferential  or  second 
choice  vote. 

1909  State  School  Law  Commission  for  Idaho  was  enacted  to  investigate 
educational  conditions  and  familiarize  itself  with  the  school  law. 

1909  Effect  of  alcoholic  drinks,  stimulants  and  narcotics  on  the  human 
system  made  a  branch  of  study  in  the  common  schools. 

1909  Branch  agricultural  secondary  schools  and  branch  experimental  sta- 
tions were  established,  one  each  in  northern  and  southern  Idaho. 

1909  Creation  of  rural  high  school  districts  for  the  establishment,  control 
and  maintenance  of  rural  high  schools  was  provided  by  law. 

1909  Lands  around  Payette  lakes  were  converted  into  a  public  park  and 
dedicated  to  the  use  of  the  general  public. 


IDAHO   CHRONOLOGY  39 

1909     Heyburn  Park  at  Chatcolet  was  established  for  free  public  use  and 

enjoyment  of  all  the  people. 
1909     Shoshone  Falls  were  improved,  dedicated  and  maintained  as  a  State 

park  for  the  free  use  and  enjoyment  of  the  public. 
1909     YVeldon  B.  Hevburn  was  re-elected  a  United  States  senator  bv  the 

State  Legislature  to  serve  until  March  4,  1915. 
1909     Three  electoral  votes  of  Idaho  were  cast   for  William   H.  Taft,  the 

Republican  presidential  candidate. 
1909     Alaska-Yukon  Exposition  at  Seattle  was  held  at  which  a  State  com- 
missioner properly  exhibited  the  products  and  resources  of  Idaho. 
1909     Discovery  of  the  north  pole  by  Lieutenant  Robert  E.  Peary  put  an 

end  to  the  mythical  Northwest  Passage  thru  North  America  to  Asia 

and  disapproved  an  open  sea  at  the  pole. 

1909  Statue  of  George  L.  Shoup  was  placed  by  the  State  in  National 
Statuary  Hall  at  the  Capitol  of  the  United  States  to  honor  and  rep- 
resent Idaho  therein. 

1910  King  Hill  Irrigation  Project,  a  Carey  act  project  of  southern  Idaho, 
was  constructed,  reclaiming  a  vast  amount  of  arid  lands. 

1910  Northern  Pacific  System  begins  -the  construction  of  a  railroad  down 
the  Salmon  River  by  building  the  Gilmore  &  Pittsburg  to  Salmon 
City. 

1910  Fifth  census  of  Idaho  was  taken  by  the  thirteenth  census  enumera- 
tors, showing  a  population  of  325,594.  or  3.9  persons  to  the  square 
mile. 

1910  History  of  Idaho,  by  John  Hailey.  State  librarian,  was  published  by 
the  State. 

1910  Halley's  comet  returned,  passed  around  the  sun  and  moved  off  again 
into  space   without   any  wonderful   portent   happening. 

1910  State  election:  Burton  L.  French,  Republican,  elected  congressman 
for  a  fourth  term  and  to  the  Sixty-second  Congress,  and  James  H. 
Hawley,  Democrat,  governor  of  the  State. 

1910  Vote  for  governor.  November  8th:  Democrat,  40.856;  Republican, 
39,961;  Socialist,  5,342.     Total,  86,159.     Democrat  plurality,  895. 

1910  Eleventh  amendment  to  the  State  constitution  adopted,  providing 
that  sheriffs  and  assessors  could  succeed  themselves  in  office. 

1010  Twelfth  amendment  to  the  State  constitution  adopted,  providing 
that  should  a  judge  of  the  Supreme  Court  be  disqualified  or  unable 
to  sit  in  a  cause,  a  district  judge  could  be  called  in  and  sit  in  court. 

1910  Thirteenth  amendment  to  the  State  constitution  adopted,  permitting 
the  Legislature  to  authorize  a  sufficient  bond  issue  to  complete  the 
construction  of  the  State  capital  building. 

1010  Fourteenth  amendment  to  the  State  constitution  adopted,  adding  the 
State  auditor  as  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Land  Commissioners, 
making  the  membership  consist  of  five. 

1911  Eleventh  session  of  the  State  Legislature  met  at  Boise  on  January 
2d  with  eighty-two  members;   Republican  majority. 

1911     Twentv-fourth   countv  created   in   Idaho  was   Bonneville,  with   Tdaho 


40  IDAHO  CHRONOLOGY 

Falls  the  county  seat,  including  the  northern  part  of  Bingham 
County. 

1911  Twenty-fifth  county  created  in  Idaho  was  Clearwater,  with  Orofino 
the  county  seat,  including  the  northern  part  of  Nez  Perce  County. 

1011  Twenty-sixth  county  created  in  Idaho  was  Adams,  with  Council  the 
county  seat,  including  the  northern  part  of  Washington  County. 

1911  Twenty-seventh  county  created  in  Idaho  was  Lewis,  with  Nez  Perce 
the  county  seat,  including  the  eastern  part  of  Nez  Perce  County. 

1911     Idaho  State  School  for  the  Deaf  and  Blind  was  located  at  Gooding. 

1911  Black  law,  providing  a  commission  form  of  government  for  certain 
cities,  was  enacted. 

1911  Ninth  Judicial  District  of  the  State  was  formed,  composed  of  Bonne- 
ville and  Fremont  counties. 

1911  Highway  district  law  was  enacted,  provided  for  maintaining  perma- 
nent good  roads  of  hard  surface,  properly  graded  and  convenient  for 
travel  thruout  the  year. 

1911  Sixteenth  amendment  to  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States  was 
ratified  by  the  Legislature,  providing  that  Congress  shall  have  power 
to  levy  an  income  tax. 

1911  White  Man's  Day  celebration  was  held  at  Milner  in  commemoration 
of  the  Hunt-Astoria  party  which  passed  thru  the  Snake  River  Valley 
one  hundred  years  before. 

1911  Idaho  State  Sanitarium,  for  the  care,  protection,  treatment  and  edu- 
cation of  the  feeble  minded,  was  located  at  Nampa. 

1911  Comprehensive  system  of  State  banking  laws  was  enacted,  providing 
for  the  examination,  regulation  and  control  of  banks  and  trust  com- 
panies. 

1911  Terms  of  the  United  States  District  Court  for  Idaho  were  made  as 
follows:  Northern  at  Coeur  d'Alene;  central  at  Moscow;  southern 
at  Boise ;  and  eastern  at  Pocatello. 

1911  Search  and  seizure  law  was  enacted  for  enforcing  the  intoxicating 
liquor  laws. 

1911  Legal  holidays  in  Idaho:  Every  Sunday;  New  Year's  Day;  Wash- 
ington's Birthday;  Decoration  Day;  Idaho  Pioneer  Day;  Independ- 
ence Day;  Labor  Day;  Columbus  Day;  Christmas  Day;  general 
election  day ;  any  public  fast,  thanksgiving  or  holiday  made  by  either 
the  President  or  governor. 

1912  Two  representatives  in  Congress  were  apportioned  to  Idaho  under 
the  census  of  1910,  to  be  elected  at  large  in  the  State. 

1912  K.  I.  Perky,  Democrat,  was  appointed  a  United  States  senator  by 
Governor  Hawley  to  fill  the  vacancy  made  by  the  death  of  Senator 
Heyburn,  and  served  until  the  Legislature  elected  another. 

1912  Extraordinary  session  of  the  eleventh  session  of  the  State  Legisla- 
ture met  at  Boise  on  January  15th  with  eighty-two  members ;  Repub- 
lican majority. 

1912  Revised  revenue  laws  enacted,  providing  a  new  system  of  assessment, 
equalization,  levy  and  collection  of  taxes  by  assessing  all  property  at 
40  per  cent  of  its  cash  value. 


IDAHO   CHRONOLOGY  41 

1912  Forty  Carey  act  projects,  to  cost  $100,000,000  and  reclaiming  5,000,- 
000  acres  of  arid  lands,  were  formed,  making  Idaho  the  foremost 
State   in   irrigation. 

1912  Federal  reserve  act  placed  Idaho  in  District  Xo.  12,  with  San  Fran- 
cisco the  reserve  bank. 

1912  Proceedings  and  debates  of  the  Idaho  Constitutional  Convention  were 
published  by  State  authority. 

1912  National  election:  Woodrow  Wilson,  Democrat,  elected  President; 
Burton  L.  French,  Republican;  congressman  for  a  fifth  term,  and 
Addison  T.  Smith,  Republican,  congressman,  the  two  congressmen 
being  elected  at  large  to  the  Sixty-third  Congress;  and  John  M. 
Haines,  Republican,  Governor  of  the  State. 

1912  Vote  for  President,  November  5th:  Democrat,  33,921;  Republican, 
32,810:  Progressive,  25,527;  Socialist,  11,960.  Total,  104,218.  Demo- 
crat plurality,  1,111. 

1912  Fifteenth  amendment  to  the  State  constitution  adopted,  providing 
for  a  referendum  vote  on  any  act  or  measure  passed  by  the  Legisla- 
ture and  cause  the  same  to  be  submitted  to  a  vote  of  the  people  for 
approval   or   rejection. 

1912  Sixteenth  amendment  to  the  State  constitution  adopted,  providing 
for  the  initiative,  that  legal  voters  may  initiate  any  desired  legis- 
lation and  cause  the  same  to  be  submitted  to  the  people  for  approval 
or  rejection. 

1912  Seventeenth  amendment  to  the  State  constitution  adopted,  allowing 
the  State  to  issue  $2,000,000  of  bonds  to  cover  appropriations  made 
by  the  eleventh  session  of  the  Legislature. 

1912  Eighteenth  amendment  to  the  State  constitution  adopted,  allowing 
one  State  senator  to  each  county  and  State  representatives  not  to 
exceed  three  for  each  senator.  The  old  provision  allowed  eighty-four 
members  only  in  the  Legislature. 

1912  Nineteenth  amendment  to  the  State  constitution  adopted,  providing 
for  the  recall  of  all  officers,  except  judicial  officers. 

1912  Twentieth  amendment  to  the  State  constitution  adopted,  allowing 
convicts  in  the  State  prison  to  work  at  other  employment  than  public 
works  under  direct  control  of  the  State. 

1912  Twenty-first  amendment  to  the  State  constitution  adopted,  providing 
for  a  State  Board  of  Education  to  supervise  the  State  educational 
institutions  and  the  public  school  system. 

1912  Twenty-second  amendment  to  the  State  constitution  adopted,  making 
the  county  treasurer  ex-officio  tax  collector,  and  allowing  him  to 
appoint  deputies  and  clerical  nssistonce  as  his  office  may  require. 

1913  Twelfth  session  of  the  State  Legislature  met  at  Boise  on  January  6th 
with   eighty-four  members;    Republican    majority. 

1913  Twenty-eighth  county  created  in  Idaho  was  Minidoka,  with  Rupert 
the  county  seat,  including  the  eastern  part  of  Lincoln  County. 

1913  Twenty-ninth  county  created  in  Idaho  was  Gooding,  with  Gooding 
the  county  seat,  including  the  western  part  of  Lincoln  County. 


42  IDAHO   CHRONOLOGY 

1913     Thirtieth   county  created  in   Idaho  was  Franklin,  with  Preston  the 

county  seat,  including  the  southwestern  part  of  Oneida  County. 
1913     Thirty-first  county  created  in  Idaho  was  Power,  with  American  Falls 

the  county  seat,  including  portions  of  Oneida,  Bingham  and  Blaine 

counties. 
191  3     Thirty-second  county  created  in  Idaho  was  Jefferson,  with  Rigby  the 

county  seat,  including  the  southern  part  of  Fremont  County. 
1913     Thirty-third  county  created  in  Idaho  was  Madison,  with  Rexburg  the 

county  seat,  including  the  southern  part  of  Fremont  County. 
1913     Public  Utilities   Commission  was  formed  with  jurisdiction  over  all 

public  utilities  and  public  services. 
1913     State  Board  of  Education  was  created  with  a  commissioner  of  educa- 
tion to  have  general  supervision,  government  and  control  of  the  public 

schools  of  the  State. 
1913     Seventeenth  amendment  to  the  United  States  Constitution,  providing 

for  the  election  of  United  States  senators  by  direct  vote  of  the  people, 

was  ratified  by  the  Legislature. 
1913     Universal  use  of  automobiles  and  motor  vehicles  created  a  necessity 

for  a  law  of  the  road  which  was  enacted  by  the  Legislature. 
1913     Contribution  to  the  Washington  National  Monument  was  made  by  the 

State  with  a  suitable*  tablet  containing  an  engraved  inscription. 
1913     Dry  farming  industry  became  an  important  one  of  the  State,  result- 
ing from   the  agricultural   extension  and  experimental   station  work 

along  the  lines  of  scientific  farming. 
1913     State  Board  of  Tax  Commissioners  was  created  which  shall  exercise 

power  and  authority  over  boards  of  assessment  and  equalization  and 

enforce  all  laws  relating  to  taxes. 
1913     Comprehensive   system   of  revenue  for   State,   county,  municipal  and 

school  purposes  was  enacted,  bringing  the  subject  of  taxation  up  to 

modern  methods. 
1913     Standard  weights  and  measures  for  Idaho  were  adopted,  giving  the 

units  of  standard  for  most  products  and  commodities. 
1913     Comprehensive    insurance  laws   were  adopted,   creating  an  insurance 

department,  regulating  the  insurance  business  and  bringing  it  up  to 

modern   methods. 
1913     State  Board  of  Veterinarian  Examination  was  provided  whose  duties 

were    to    examine    and    license    applicants    to    practice    veterinarian 

medicine,  surgery  and  dentistry. 
1913     National  migratory  bird  law  to  prevent  the  slaughtering  and  exter- 
mination of  migratory  birds  was  prayed  for  in  a  memorial  to  Con- 
gress by  the  Legislature. 
1913     Early  History  of  Idaho,  by  William  J.  McConnell,  was  published  by 

State  authority. 
1913     National   parcel   post  law,  whereby  parcels  of  merchandise  could  be 

sent  cheaply  through  the  mails,  greatly  benefitted  the  buying  public 

and  mail  facilities  in  the  State. 
1913     James   H.    Brady,   Republican,   elected   by   the  Legislature   a   United 

States  senator  to  serve  out  Senator  Heyburn's  term,  ending  March  4, 

1915. 


IDAHO   CHRONOLOGY  43 

1913  William  E,  Borah,  Republican,  elected  by  the  Legislature  a  United 
States  senator  for  a  second  term  to  serve  until  March  4,  1919. 

1913  Four  electoral  votes  of  Idaho  were  cast  for  Woodrow  Wilson,  the 
Democratic  presidential  candidate. 

1914  State  election:  James  H.  Brady,  Republican,  elected  United  States 
senator  to  serve  until  March  4,  1921 ;  Addison  T.  Smith,  Republican, 
congressman  for  a  second  term,  and  Robert  McCracken,  Republican, 
congressman,  the  two  congressmen  being  elected  at  large  for  the 
Sixty-fourth  Congress ;  and  Moses  Alexander,  Democrat,  governor  of 
the  State. 

1914  Vote  for  governor,  November  3d:  Democrat,  47,G18;  Republican, 
40,349;  Progressive,  10,583;  Socialist,  7,967.  Total,  106,517.  Demo- 
crat plurality,  7,269. 

1915  Thirteenth  session  of  the  State  Legislature  met  at  Boise  on  January 
4th  with  ninety-four  members;   Republican  majority. 

1915     Thirty-fourth  county  created  in  Idaho  was  Benewah,  with  St.  Maries 

the  county  seat,  including  the  southern  part  of  Kootenai  County. 
1915     Thirty- fifth   county   created   in   Idaho   was   Boundary,   with   Bonners 

Ferry  the  county  seat,  including  the  northern  part  of  Bonner  County. 
1915     Thirty-sixth   county   created   in    Idaho  was   Teton,   with   Driggs   the 

county  seat,  including  the  eastern  part  of  Madison  County. 
1915     Thirty-seventh  county  created  in  Idaho  was  Gem,  with  Emmett  the 

county  seat,  including  the  northeastern  part  of  Canyon  County. 
1915     Bone  dry  prohibition  law  was  enacted,  making  it  unlawful  for  any 

person  to  import,  ship,  sell,  transport,  deliver,  receive  or  have  in  his 

possession  intoxicating  liquors  within  the  State. 
1915     Director  of  farm  markets  was  created  to  promote  the  production  and 

distribution  of  farm  products  and  to  improve  country  life. 
1915     Uniform  bill  of  lading  act,  relating  to  bills  of  lading  issued  by  com- 
mon carriers  and  prescribing  the  rules  governing  the  same,  was  enacted. 
1915     Uniform  warehouse  receipts  act,  relating  to  warehouse  receipts  issued 

by   warehousemen    and   prescribing   rules   governing   the    same,   was 

enacted. 
1915     Panama-Pacific  International  Exposition  at  San  Francisco  was  held 

where  products  and  industries  of  the  State  were  exhibited  with  good 

results  by  a  commissioner. 

1915  Columbia  River  Basin  opened  to  continuous  river  communication 
with  the  Pacific  Ocean  by  the  completion  of  the  Dalles-Celilo  Canal. 

1916  Second  Idaho  Regiment  of  Infantry  Volunteers  organized  and  mus- 
tered into  service  for  Mexican  Border  War  at  call  of  President 
Wilson. 

1916  National  grazing  homestead  act,  providing  for.  three  hundred  and 
twenty  acres  of  grazing  lands,  made  available  a  range  pasture  for  live 
stock  uses. 

1916  Federal  farm  loan  act,  providing  capital  for  agricultural  develop- 
ment, was  enact ed.  aiding  that  industry  of  the  State. 

1916  National  election:  Woodrow  Wilson.  Democrat,  re-elected  Presi- 
dent; Addison  T.  Smith,  Republican,  congressman  for  a  third  term, 
and  Burton  L.   French,  Republican,  congressman  for  a   sixth   term. 


44  IDAHO   CHRONOLOGY 

two  congressmen  elected  at  large  and  to  the  Sixty-fifth  Congress; 
and  Moses  Alexander,  Democrat,  re-elected  governor  of  the  State. 

1916  Vote  for  President,  November  7th:  Democrat,  70,054;  Republican, 
55,368;  Socialist,  8,066;  Prohibition,  1,127.  Total,  134,615.  Demo- 
crat plurality,  14,686. 

1016  Twenty-third  amendment  to  the  State  constitution  adopted,  prohibit- 
ing forever  the  manufacture,  sale,  keeping  for  sale  and  transporting 
for  sale  of  intoxicating  liquors  for  beverage  purposes. 

1916  Twenty-fourth  amendment  to  the  State  constitution  adopted,  provid- 
ing that  one  hundred  instead  of  twenty-five  sections  of  school  lands 
shall  be  sold  in  any  one  year. 

1917  Fourteenth  session  of  the  State  Legislature  met  at  Boise  on  January 
8th  with  102  members;   Democrat  majority. 

1917  Thirty-eighth  county  created  in  Idaho  was  Payette,  with  Payette  the 
county  seat,  including  the  northern  part  of  Canyon  County. 

1917  Thirty-ninth  county  created  in  Idaho  was  Camas,  with  Fairfield  the 
county  seat,  including  the  western  part  of  Blaine  County. 

1917  Fortieth  county  created  in  Idaho  was  Butte,  with  Arco  the  county 
seat,  including  parts  of  Blaine,  Jefferson  and  Bingham  counties. 

1917  Forty-first  county  created  in  Idaho  was  Valley,  with  Cascade  the 
county  seat,  including  parts  of  Idaho  and  Boise  counties. 

1917  Forty-second  county  created  in  Idaho  was  Selway,  with  Koosia  the 
county  seat,  including  parts  of  Idaho  and  Lewis  counties. 

1917  Judicial  districts  of  the  State  are:  First,  Shoshone;  Second,  Latah, 
Clearwater,  Selway;  Third,  Ada,  Boise,  Owyhee,  Valley;  Fourth, 
Blaine,  Cassia,  Elmore,  Gooding,  Lincoln,  Minidoka,  Twin  Falls, 
Camas;  Fifth,  Bannock,  Bear  Lake,  Franklin,  Oneida,  Power;  Sixth, 
Bingham,  Butte,  Custer,  Lemhi;  Seventh,  Adams,  Canyon,  Gem,  Pay- 
ette, Washington;  Eighth,  Benewah,  Bonner,  Boundary,  Kootenai; 
Ninth,  Bonneville,  Fremont,  Jefferson,  Madison,  Teton;  Tenth,  Idaho, 
Lewis,  Nez  Perce. 

1917  First  Congressional  District  was  formed,  composed  of  Adams,  Boise, 
Boundary,  Bonner,  Benewah,  Custer,  Canyon,  Clearwater,  Gem, 
Idaho,  Kootenai,  Lewis,  Lemhi,  Latah,  Nez  Perce,  Payette,  Shoshone, 
Selway,  Washington  and  Valley  counties. 

1917  Second  Congressional  District  was  formed,  composed  of  Ada,  Ban- 
nock, Blaine,  Bingham,  Bonneville,  Bear  Lake,  Butte,  Cassia,  Camas, 
Elmore,  Franklin,  Fremont,  Gooding,  Jefferson.  Lincoln,  Madison, 
Minidoka,  Oneida,  Owyhee,  Power,  Twin  Falls  and  Teton  counties. 

1917  Teachers'  retirement  fund,  providing  a  pension  for  old  teachers  and  old 
age  insurance  and  caring  for  those  permanently  injured,  was  enacted. 

1917  Classification  of  counties  with  salaries  paid  county  commissioners: 
First,  Bonner,  Twin  Falls,  $1,500;  Second,  Ada,  Canyon,  $900; 
Third,  Latah,  Kootenai,  Elmore,  Clearwater,  Payette,  Owyhee,  Bonne- 
ville, Benewah,  Boise,  Fremont,  Idaho,  Nez  Perce,  Shoshone,  $700; 
Fourth,  Minidoka.  Boundary.  Custer,  Lemhi,  Bannock,  Bingham, 
Lincoln,  Lewis,  Washington,  Valley,  Selway,  $500;  Fifth,  Adams, 
Blaine,  Bear  Lake,  Butte,  Camas,  Cassia,  Franklin,  Gooding,  Jeffer- 
son, Teton,  Madison,  Oneida,  Gem,  Power,  $300. 


IDAHO   CHRONOLOGY  45 

1917  Five  annual  terms  of  the  Supreme  Court  were  provided  for,  of  which 
two  shall  be  held  at  Boise,  one  at  Lewiston,  one  at  Coeur  d'Alene 
and  one  at  Pocatello. 

1917  Federal  good  road  act  was  accepted  by  the  Legislature  relating  to  the 
survey,  construction  and  maintenance  of  good  roads  thruout  the  State. 

1917  State  Board  of  Agriculture  was  created  with  duties  to  promote  the 
interests  of  agriculture,  horticulture,  stock  raising,  animal  industry, 
manufacture,  domestic  arts  and  other  industries  of  the  State. 

1917  Annual  State  fair  at  Boise  was  created  for  the  purpose  of  exhibiting 
agricultural,  horticultural,  mining,  mechanical,  industrial  and  other 
resources. 

1917  Annual  live  stock  show  at  Lewiston  was  created  for  the  special 
advancement  of  the  live  stock  industry  of  the  State. 

1917  Big  Lost  River  Game  Preserve  in  Custer  and  Blaine  counties  was 
created  to  protect  game  birds,  game  and  fur-bearing  animals,  and  to 
establish  a  breeding  place  therefor. 

1917  Selway  Game  Preserve  in  Idaho  County  was  created  to  protect  game 
and  fur-bearing  animals  and  to  establish  a  breeding  place  therefor. 

1917  Big  Creek  Game  Preserve  in  Lemhi  County  was  created  to  protect 
game  birds,  game  and  fur-bearing  animals,  and  to  establish  a  breed- 
ing place  therefor. 

1917  City  manager  plan  of  government  was  adopted  for  the  administration 
of  the  affairs  of  certain  cities. 

1917  Workman's  compensation  act,  to  provide  for  the  compensation  of 
employes  for  personal  injuries  sustained  in  the  course  of  public  and 
industrial  employment,  was  enacted. 

1917  State  Board  of  Architect  Examiners,  to  pass  on  the  qualifications 
and  duties  of  architects  and  to  issue  licenses  therefor,  was  enacted. 

1917  Amendments  to  the  United  States  Constitution  providing  for  the  ab- 
solute abolition  of  the  liquor  traffic  and  for  the  equal  right  of  suffrage 
for  women  was  prayed  for  in  a  memorial  to  Congress  by  the  Legislature. 

1917  Four  electoral  votes  of  Idaho  were  cast  for  Woodrow  Wilson,  the 
Democratic  presidential  candidate. 

1917  Indian  war  pension  bill  enacted  by  Congress  for  those  who  had  par- 
ticipated in  the  western  Indian  wars  helped  out  many  who  had  volun- 
teered in  these  wars. 

1917  Arrowrock  Dam  on  the  Boise  River,  350  feet  high  and  costing  $5,000,- 
000,  was  constructed  for  the  Boise-Payette  project  to  irrigate  an 
empire  of  virgin  soil. 

1917  World's  war  for  democracy  received  a  hearty  approval  in  Idaho, 
resulting  in  generous  contributions  for  Liberty  bonds,  Red  Cross, 
Y.  M.  C.  A.  and  other  helpful  funds. 

1917  Energies  of  the  State  directed  almost  exclusively  to  drives,  drafts. 
production  and  conservation  of  food  products  and  other  things  help- 
ful to  make  the  world  safe  for  democracy. 

1918  John  F.  Nugent,  Democrat,  was  appointed  a  United  States  senator 
by  Governor  Alexander  to  fill  the  vacancy  made  by  the  death  of 
James  H.  Brady  and  to  serve  until  the  next  State  election. 


IDAHO— ITS  MEANING,  ORIGIN  AND 
APPLICATION* 

By  John  E.  Rees 

CONSIDERABLE  speculation  has  been  indulged  and  much  thought 
expended  regarding  the  word  "Idaho";  its  origin,  meaning  and 
the  manner  in  which  it  came  to  be  applied.  Other  writers  have 
expressed  opinions  and  published  their  knowledge  concerning  this  word  or 
name,  creating  rather  an  extensive  literature  on  the  subject,  while  both 
the  wise  and  otherwise  have  guessed  at  its  meaning.  My  object  in  this 
article  is  an  endeavor  to  assemble  this  information  and  offer  an  explanation 
of  the  word  from  the  light  of  other  facts  perhaps  not  yet  known,  and  at 
any  rate  not  yet  published.  These,  it  seems  to  me,  will  give  a  fairly  good 
interpretation  of  the  word. 

'"Idaho"  has  been  so  nicely  explained  and  elaborated  so  profusely  by 
the  poetical  and  idealist  that  Idahoans  feel  proud  of  a  name  which  signifies 
such  a  noble  and  expressive  thought  as  the  "Gem  of  the  Mountains";  and 
whatever  the  word  may  have  originally  meant,  this  is  its  meaning  to  us 
now,  and  one  not  to  be  now  molested.  It  is  not  my  Avish  or  purpose  in 
this  article  to  disturb  this  meaning,  nor  to  detract  one  iota  from  its  inspir- 
ing sentiment,  but  simply  to  offer  a  version  of  the  matter,  for  history's 
sake,  from  my  knowledge  of  the  Shoshoni  Indian  language,  gained  by  forty 
years'  residence  near  the  Lemhis,  one  division  of  the  Shoshoni  tribe  and 
among  whom  I  was  Indian  trader  for  fifteen  years. 

"Idaho"  is  a  Shoshoni  Indian  exclamation.  The  expression  from  which 
the  word  is  derived  is  heard  repeated  as  often  perhaps  in  a  Shoshoni 
Indian  camp,  in  the  early  part  of  the  morning,  as  is  heard  the  English 
expression,  "It's  sun  up,"  repeated  in  the  home  following  the  early  dawn. 
The  word  is  contracted  from  a  meaning  which  requires  much  writing  to 
correctly  express  it  in  English.  Those  who  are  used  to  translating  lan- 
guages readily  understand  the  difficulties  of  this  labor,  which  at  times 
becomes  almost  an  impossible  task.  The  word  "Idaho"  consists  of  three 
component  parts,  each  of  which  must  be  analyzed  to  correctly  understand 
its  derivation  and  the  idea  conveyed.  The  first  is  "Ee,"  which  in  English 
conveys  the  idea  of  "coming  down."  This  syllable  is  the  basis  of  such 
Shoshoni  words  as  mean  "raining,"  "snowing,"  etc.,  which  words  when 
properly  translated  would  be,  "water  coming  down,"  "snow  coming  down," 
etc.  The  second  syllable  is  "Dah,"  which  is  the  Shoshoni  stem  or  root  for 
both  "sun"  and  "mountain,"  the  one  being  as  eternal  and  everlasting  to  the 
Indian  mind  as  is  the  other.  The  third  syllable,  "How,"  denotes  the 
exclamation  and  stands  for  just  the  same  thing  in  Indian  as  the  exclama- 
tion mark  (  ! )  does  in  the  English  language.  The  Shoshoni  word  is  "Ee- 
dah-how,"  and  the  Indian  thought  thus  conveyed  when  literally  translated 
into  English  means,  "Behold !   the  sun  coming  down  the  mountain." 

*  Reprinted  from  Oregon  Historical  Quarterly,  Vol.  XVIII,  No.  2,  1917. 

46 


IDAHO— ITS   MEANING,   ORIGIN  AND   APPLICATION  47 

The  mere  word  does  not  indicate  much,  for  it  is  composed  of  simple 
syllables,  the  significance  of  which  requires  pages  of  written  English  to 
correctly  convey  the  idea  which  this  exclamation  suggests  to  the  aboriginal 
mind.  Every  one  who  has  lived  in  a  mountainous  country  has  observed 
at  sunrise  the  rim  of  sunlight  coming  down  the  mountain  side  as  the  sun 
was  rising  in  the  opposite  direction.  This  is  the  Shoshoni  "Ee-dah-how." 
It  can  only  occur  in  and  among  the  mountains  which  is  represented  by  the 
English  thought,  "the  lofty  mountains  upon  which  the  morning  breaks." 
Also,  it  can  occur  only  at  those  times  when  the  atmosphere  is  still,  clear  and 
bright,  elements  producing  that  invigorating  and  exhilarating  feeling  which 
only  high,  mountainous  countries  possess. 

In  the  imagination  this  sunlight  on  the  mountain  side  can  be  inter- 
preted to  mean  ''Sunshine  Mountain,"  or  "Shining  Mountain,"  and  the 
rim  of  sunlight  can  also  represent  the  "Diadem  on  the  Mountain,"  while  a 
peculiar  sunlit  peak  could  be  imagined  a  "Sun-Crowned  Peak,"  or  a  brilliant 
display  of  sunlight  upon  a  snow-capped  mountain  where  the  rays  of  sun- 
shine are  refracted  into  their  natural  colors  may  convey  to  us  the  thought 
or  image  of  the  "Gem  of  the  Mountains" ;  but  when  the  word  is  uttered 
in  a  Shoshoni  camp,  at  early  dawn,  the  hearer  knows  that  a  rim  of  sunlight 
is  coming  down  the  mountain  side  as  the  sun  is  rising  in  the  opposite 
direction,  and  that  it  is  time  for  him  to  be  up  and  at  the  labors  of  the  day; 
just  as  much  so  as  a  person  hearing  the  English  expression,  "It's  sun  up," 
knows  that  the  sun  has  risen  in  the  sky  and  he  should  be  up  and  at  work. 

The  idea  conveyed  by  "Ee-dah-how"  may  be  a  kind  of  sun  worship  as 
contended  by  some,  but  it  appears  to  me  to  be  no  more  so  than  is  the 
English  expression,  "It's  sun  up."  This  exclamation  expresses  to  the 
primeval  mind  a  confidence  in  the  continuance  of  nature,  for  the  sun  has 
returned  to  replenish  all  things,  and  this  display  on  the  mountain  side  is 
the  evidence;  and  to  the  Indian  mind  this  exhibition  of  an  eternal  sun 
making  its  first  appearance  upon  an  everlasting  mountain  denotes  a  stable- 
ness  worthy  of  his  attention  and  is  his  signal  to  arise,  as  he  habitually  does 
at  the  first  appearance  of  "Ee-dah-how." 

The  effect  which  day  and  night  might  have  had  upon  the  habits  of 
primitive  man  is  a  subject  within  the  province  of  the  anthropologist. 
However,  we  are  informed  that  civilized  man  is  ofttimes  influenced  by 
custom  survivals  and  will,  long  after  the  necessary  fact  for  a  certain  action 
has  ceased,  continue  to  act  as  if  it  were  still  in  existence.  Whatever  might 
have  been  the  reason  in  times  past,  we  know  and  realize  that  the  expres- 
sion, "It's  sun  up,"  has  a  meaning  to  the  majority  of  mankind  of  an  influ- 
ence which  the  rising  sun  has  upon  his  actions.  The  emphasis  in  this 
expression,  "Ee-dah-how,"  is  placed  upon  the  "Dab"  syllable,  as  it  is  the 
keynote  to  the  utterance,  for  the  eternal  sun  arrayed  upon  the  everlasting 
mountain  is  the  splendor  which  the  speaker  wishes  to  especially  impress 
upon  his  hearer.  The  Indian  has  a  name  for  sunrise,  sunset,  morning  and 
evening,  but  "Ee-dah-how"  conveys  the  idea  of  a  beginning  or  renewal  of 
natural  phenomena,  and  the  sunrise  is  the  symbol,  while  other  parts  of  the. 
day  follow  in  sequence  only  and  do  not  attract  the  same  attention,  senti- 
ment  or  acknowledgment. 


48  IDAHO— ITS  MEANING,   ORIGIN  AND  APPLICATION 

The  fchoshonean  Indians  were  the  third  family,  in  the  extent  of  terri- 
tory occupied,  of  the  fifty-five  that  formerly  inhabited  the  United  {States. 
The  Shoshoni  are  one  tribe  of  this  great  Shoshonean  family,  of  which  the 
Comanche  are  another.  The  two  tribes  speak  almost  the  same  language, 
varying  only  in  dialect;  their  traditions  are  very  similar  and  they  readily 
converse  with  and  understand  each  other.  Ethnologists  consider  the 
Comanche  an  oll'shoot  of  the  iShoshoni.  It  was  not  many  years  ago,  geolog- 
ically considered,  when  they  lived  adjacent  to  each  other  in  southern  Wyom- 
ing, from  which  place  the  Shoshoni  were  gradually  beaten  back  by  other 
Indians  into  the  mountains,  while  the  Comanche  were  forced  southward, 
so  that  the  first  rush  of  miners  to  Pike's  Peak  in  1858,  and  what  afterwards 
became  known  as  Colorado,  found  this  tribe  within  this  territory  and 
located  especially  along  the  Arkansas  River.  The  country  was  at  that 
time  a  part  of  Kansas.  Here,  also,  they  came  in  contact  with  the  "lofty 
mountains  upon  which  the  morning  breaks,"  which  were  quite  numerous 
and  in  commanding  evidence.  As  all  the  elements  were  present,  it  was  no 
wonder  that  they  found  the  expression,  "Ee-dah-how,"  a  familiar  one  in 
this  new  Eldorado,  and  the  word  "Idaho"  was  known  to  almost  every  one 
and  was  said  by  all  who  had  any  knowledge  of  it  to  mean  "Gem  of  the 
Mountains."  The  first  permanent  settlement  made  by  those  hardy  pioneers 
in  this  new  territory  in  1859  was  named  for  this  Shoshoni  word  and  called 
"Idaho  Springs."  In  1SG1,  when  Congress  organized  this  new  territory, 
"Idaho"  was  proposed  as  its  name,  which  should  have  been  applied  to  it, 
but  the  Spanish  word  "Colorado,"  which  referred  to  a  river  and  country 
foreign  to  this  new  country  and  which  had  no  application  whatever,  was 
selected  instead.  This  selection  was  suggested  by  Senator  Henry  Wilson 
of  Massachusetts,  who  was  afterwards  Vice-President  associated  with  Gen- 
eral Grant  in  the  presidency,  and  who  was  chiefly  responsible  for  the  naming 
of  Colorado,  Idaho  and  Montana. 

The  next  heard  of  this  word  was  when  "ldahoe"  was  applied  to  a 
steamboat  launched  at  Victoria,  British  Columbia,  in  the  fall  of  18G0.  It 
was  built  for  the  Yale  Steamboat  Company  to  run  upon  the  Fraser  River, 
and  was  so  called  by  one  of  the  owners  for  his  former  home  in  Colorado, 
"Idaho  Springs,"  which  was  an  Indian  word  signifying  "Gem  of  the 
Mountains,"  but  the  name  of  the  steamboat  was  soon  changed  to  "Fort 
Yale,"  and  it  was  afterwards  blown  up  by  a  boiler  explosion. 

The  permanent  settlement  of  Idaho  Territory  began  with  the  discovery 
of  gold  at  Pierce  City,  on  Oro  Fino  Creek,  in  18G0.  It  was  then  a  part  of 
Washington  Territory,  and  the  name  "Idaho"  was  not  known  or  applied 
at  that  time.  The  rush  to  these  mines  was  made  principally  by  the  Colum- 
bia River  route,  and  so  extensive  did  the  traffic,  carried  on  by  river  boats, 
become  that  a  company  was  formed,  called  the  Oregon  Steam  Navigation 
Company,  of  which  Colonel  J.  S.  Ruckel  was  a  stockholder.  One  of  the 
steamboats  constructed  by  this  company  plying  on  the  Columbia  River  was 
called  the  "Idaho,"  and  launched  in  I860.  Mr.  George  H.  Himes,  curator 
of  the  Oregon  Historical  Society,  informs  me  that  he  heard  Colonel  Ruckel 
tell  Mr.  D.  C.  Ireland,  who  was  the  local  newsgatherer  of  the  Oregonian, 


IDAHO— ITS  MEANING,  ORIGIN  AND  APPLICATION  49 

in  answer  to  the  question  as  to  the  origin  and  meaning  of  the  name  "Idaho," 
which  he  had  applied  to  this  steamboat,  "That  it  was  an  Indian  word  mean- 
ing 'Gem  of  the  Mountains,'  and  that  he  got  it  from  a  Colorado  friend 
who  was  interested  with  him  in  mining  operations  in  that  State,  and  he 
thought  the  name  very  appropriate  for  a  steamboat  that  ran  on  a  river 
like  the  Columbia  which  penetrated  a  range  of  mountains  like  the  Cas- 
cades." Thus  the  name  became  transferred  to  the  great  Northwest,  and 
as  Joaquin  Miller  said,  "The  name  was  familiar  in  five  thousand  men's 
mouths  as  they  wallowed  thru  the  snow  in  '61  on  their  way  to  the  Oro  Fino 
mines." 

However,  the  word  became  corrupted  by  these  miners  into  "Idao,"  but 
happily  thru  the  writings  of  the  poet  Joaquin  Miller,  the  Bard  of  the 
Sierras,  the  proper  orthography  was  restored  and  for  the  first  time  in  his- 
tory an  attempt  wras  made  to  give  the  origin  and  meaning  of  the  name  and 
to  publish  it  to  the  public.  Mr.  Miller  said,  "I  was  riding  pony  express  at 
the  time  rumors  reached  us  thru  the  Nez  Perce  Indians  that  gold  was  to 
be  found  on  the  headwaters  and  tributaries  of  the  Salmon  River.  I  had 
lived  with  the  Indians,  and  Colonel  Craig,  who  had  spent  most  of  his  life 
with  them,  often  talked  with  me  about  possible  discoveries  in  the  mountains 
to  the  right  as  we  rode  to  Oro  Fino,  and  what  the  Indians  said  of  the  then 
unknown  region.  Gallop  your  horse,  as  I  have  a  hundred  times,  against 
the  rising  sun.  As  you  climb  the  Sweetwater  Mountains,  far  away  to  your 
right,  you  will  see  the  name  Idaho  written  on  the  mountain  top ;  at  least 
you  will  see  a  peculiar  and  beautiful  light  at  sunrise,  a  sort  of  diadem  on 
two  grand  clusters  of  mountains  that  bear  away  under  the  clouds  fifty 
miles  distant.  I  called  Colonel  Craig's  attention  to  this  peculiar  and 
beautiful  light.  'That,'  said  he,  'is  what  the  Indians  call  E-dah-hoe,  which 
means  the  light  or  diadem  on  the  line  of  the  mountains.'  That  was  the  first 
time  I  ever  heard  the  name.  Later,  in  September,  1861,  when  I  rode  into 
the  newly  discovered  camp  to  establish  an  express  office,  I  took  with  me 
an  Indian  from  Lapwai.  We  followed  an  Indian  trail,  crossed  Craig  Moun- 
tain, then  Camas  Prairie,  and  had  all  the  time  E-dah-hoe  Mount  for  our 
objective  point.  On  my  return  to  Lewiston  I  wrote  a  letter  containing  a 
brief  account  of  our  trip  and  of  the  mines,  and  it  was  published  in  one  of 
the  Oregon  papers,  which  one  I  have  now  forgotten.  In  that  account  I 
often  mentioned  E-dah-hoe,  but  spelt  it  Idaho,  leaving  the  pronunciation 
unmarked  by  any  diacritical  signs.  So  that  perhaps  I  may  have  been  the 
first  to  give  it  its  present  spelling,  but  I  certainly  did  not  originate  the 
word." 

In  1858  the  Territorial  Legislature  of  Washington  created  a  county 
within  this  territory  which  contained  all  lands  north  of  the  Clearwater, 
fist  of  the  Columbia  and  west  of  the  Rocky  Mountains.  It  was  named 
Shoshone  for  the  largest  tribe  of  Indians  in  this  section  of  the  country, 
and  in  1861,  when  the  population  in  the  mines  demanded  it.  another  county 
was  formed  including  all  lands  lying  south  and  west  of  the  Clearwater, 
and  named  Nez  Perce  for  the  next  largest  tribe  of  Idaho  Indians.  The 
rest  of  the  Idaho  Territory  was  formed,  in  1862,  into  the  largest  county  ever 


50  IDAHO— ITS  MEANING,   ORIGIN  AND   APPLICATION 

created  within  the  State,  embracing  all  lands  lying  south  of  Nez  Perce  and 
east  of  Snake  River,  and  called  Idaho  County  in  recognition  of  this  word. 
In  1803,  Boise  County  was  created,  so  that  Idaho  had  four  counties  in 
existence,  tunned  by  the  Washington  Legislature,  when  the  Territory  was 
organized. 

Hon.  John  Hailey,  Idaho's  State  historian,  in  his  ''History  of  Idaho," 
says:  "The  organic  act  passed  by  Congress,  and  approved  by  the  President, 
March  3,  1803,  creating  and  organizing  a  territorial  government  for  the 
people  residing  within  and  those  who  might  come  hereafter,  in  certain  limits 
and  boundary  lines  of  territorial  lands,  gave  to  that  Territory  the  name 
Idaho.  Various  reasons  are  given  for  the  origin  of  the  name  Idaho.  By 
some  it  is  claimed  that  it  is  an  Indian  name.  One  story  is  that  some 
miners  had  camped  within  sight  of  what  is  now  Mount  Idaho.  In  the 
morning  they  were  awakened  by  the  Indians  calling  'I-da-ho,'  and  pointing 
to  the  rising  sun  just  coming  over  the  mountain,  hence  the  term  'The  Rising 
Sun.'  Another  is  that  the  name  wras  taken  from  a  steamboat  built  by  the 
late  Col.  J.  S.  Ruckel  to  run  on  the  Columbia  River  in  the  early  days. 
This  boat  was  named  'The  Idaho.'  W.  A.  Goulder,  one  of  the  oldest  living 
(now  dead)  pioneers  of  Idaho,  saw  this  steamer  on  the  Columbia  in  1800, 
and  noticing  the  name,  asked  the  meaning,  and  was  informed  that  it  was 
an  Indian  word,  'E-dah-hoe,'  and  stood  for  'The  Gem  of  the  Mountains.' 
Frederick  Campbell,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  the  Pike's  Peak  excitement,  says 
that  the  word  Idaho  is  an  Arapaho  Indian  word,  and  that  in  Colorado  a 
spring  was  named  Idaho  before  the  word  was  known  in  the  Northwest,  and 
that  it  was  even  suggested  for  the  name  of  Colorado." 

Col.  William  H.  Wallace  was  delegate  in  Congress  from  Washington 
Territory  when  the  bill  was  passed  in  1803  organizing  from  the  eastern  por- 
1  inn  of  Washington,  a  new  Territory,  which  was  named  Idaho.  Mrs.  Wallace 
was  in  Washington,  District  of  Columbia,  at  the  time,  and  her  account  of 
the  episode,  which  was  afterwards  published  in  the  Tacoma  Ledger,  is  as 
follows:  "I  may  refer  with  pride  to  my  connection  with  the  establishment 
of  the  Territory  of  Idaho  at  the  expiring  days  of  the  session  of  Congress, 
1802-03.  Quite  a  delegation  was  present  at  Washington  City  who  favored 
the  division  of  Washington  Territory,  which  then  included  all  of  Idaho  and 
Montana  west  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  extending  as  far  south  as  the 
northern  line  of  California  and  Nevada.  It  was  an  immense  region  and 
contained  South  Pass,  the  great  entrance  of  Oregon,  Washington  and  Cali- 
fornia, by  the  great  immigrant  route.  The  colonel  was  overjoyed  at  the 
assured  passage  of  the  bill,  which  he  had  in  charge,  and  his  friends  who 
had  assembled  at  his  rooms  joined  with  him  in  conferring  upon  me  the 
high  privilege  of  naming  the  new  Territory.  I  answered,  'Well,  if  I  am'to 
inline  it.  the  Territory  shall  be  called  Idaho,  for  my  little  niece,  who  was 
born  near  Colorado  Springs,  whose  name  is  Idaho,  from  an  Indian  chief's 
daughter  of  that  name,  so  called  for  her  beauty,  meaning  'Gem  of  the 
Mountains.'  Dr.  Anson  G.  Henry,  the  surveyor-general  of  Washington 
Territory,  then  on  a  visit  to  Washington  City,  was  in  the  room.  He  clapped 
his  hands  upon  his  knees  and  said  to  me,  'Mrs.  Wallace,  Idaho  it  shall  be.' 


IDAHO— ITS  MEANING,   ORIGIN  AND  APPLICATION  51 

The  evening  of  the  day  upon  which  the  bill  was  passed  my  husband  came 
home  and  said,  'Well,  Lue,  you've  got  your  Territory,  and  I'm  to  be  gov- 
ernor of  it.'  A  short  time  after  the  bill  was  signed  my  husband  was 
appointed  its  hist  governor,  and  at  the  first  election  held  in  the  newly 
organized  Territory,  he  was  selected  delegate  to  Congress." 

There  were  others  beside  Mrs.  Wallace  who  claimed  the  honor  of 
naming  Idaho  Territory,  and  while  their  contributory  suggestions  may 
have  had  some  influence  in  designating  it,  yet  the  true  history  of  the  appli- 
cation of  the  word  to  this  particular  geographical  territory  for  political 
administration  discloses  the  fact  that  it  occurred  in  an  ordinary  way,  and 
that  instead  of  any  sentiment  influencing  the  act,  it  was  simply  a  result 
of  legislative  enactment.  In  the  fall  of  1801,  Wallace,  Garfield  and 
Lander  were  candidates  for  congressional  delegate  from  Washington  Terri- 
tory, and  while  stumping  the  country  during  the  campaign,  met  at  Pierce 
City.  The  people  inhabiting  this  section  of  the  country  wTere  so  far  from 
Olympia,  the  capital,  and  had  for  some  time  agitated  a  division  of  the 
eastern  part  of  Washington  Territory,  so,  thru  the  solicitation  and  request 
of  these  people,  each  of  these  candidates  agreed  that  whoever  was  elected 
would  favor  this  division,  and  every  one  agreed  that  "Idaho"  should  be  the 
name  of  the  new  Territory.  That  this  agreement  was  carried  out  is  proven 
by  the  fact  that  Mr.  Wallace,  the  successful  candidate,  at  once  had  intro- 
duced in  Congress  a  bill  creating  the  new  Territory  of  Idaho. 

The  congressional  history  of  this  act  shows  that  in  the  committee  to 
which  the  bill  had  been  referred  three  names  were  suggested,  namely, 
Shoshone,  Montana  and  Idaho,  and  that  in  the  bill  as  it  passed  the  House 
of  Representatives  the  name  of  "Montana"  was  applied  to  this  new  Terri- 
tory. When  the  matter  came  before  the  Senate  for  consideration,  the  bill 
was  modified  very  materiallv,  for,  while  it  searcelv  included  what  is  now 
Idaho,  the  modified  bill  included  all  of  the  present  States  of  Montana  and 
Wyoming,  in  which  form  it  was  approved  and  became  the  law.  Later  these 
States  were  created  out  of  Idaho.  Senator  Wilson  moved  to  strike  out  the 
word  "Montana"  and  insert  "Idaho"  in  its  stead.  To  this  Senator  Harding 
of  Oregon  agreed,  saying,  "Idaho  in  English  means  'Gem  of  the  Moun- 
tains.' "  Senator  Wilson's  amendment  was  agreed  to,  and  when  the  bill 
went  back  to  the  House  it  was  concurred  in  and  the  new  Territory  was 
henceforth  designated  Idaho. 

Thus  Senator  Wilson  selected  the  name  Idaho,  whilst  Senator  Harding 
was  instrumental  in  continuing  its  meaning.  How  the  Shoshoni  Indian 
word  "Ee-dah-how"  was  eventually  transformed  into  the  English  word 
"Idaho"  is  a  task  for  the  etymologist;  but,  whatever  may  be  its  etymology, 
the  word  "Idaho"  and  its  meaning,  "Gem  of  the  Mountains,"  are  forever 
fixed  as  correlated  terms  in  t lie  vocabulary  of  the  people  of  Idaho. 


IDAHO  NOMENCLATURE 

AGENCY  CREEK,  Lemhi  County. — This  stream  is  a  tributary  of  the  Lemhi 
River  and  was  the  first  creek  which  Captain  Meriwether  Lewis  came 
upon  when  he  entered  the  Columbia  River  Basin  on  August  12,  1805. 
The  Lewis  and  Clark  trail  follows  down  this  creek  about  a  mile,  where 
it  passes  into  the  foothills.  In  1872,  A.  J.  Smith,  an  Indian  agent, 
erected  some  buildings  near  the  mouth  of  this  stream  for  the  Lemhi 
Indian  agency,  from  which  incident  the  creek  received  its  present 
name. — REEIS,  History  of  Lemhi  County. 

ALTURAS  LAKE,  Blaine  County. — This  name  was  first  applied  to  one  of 
the  counties  of  Idaho  and  is  a  Spanish  word  meaning  "mountainous 
heights."  It  was  given  to  the  new  county  that  was  formed  in  1864,  and 
was  said  by  the  miners  who  inhabited  that  part  of  the  country  to 
mean  "Heavenly  Heights."  The  county  was  abolished,  by  legislative 
enactment;  the  name  still  adheres  to  this  lake. — BANCROFT,  History 
of  Washington,  Idaho  and  Montana. 

AMERICAN. — While  anything  pertaining  to  the  western  hemisphere  is 
"American,"  yet  in  all  countries  the  use  of  this  word  is  restricted  to 
the  citizens  of  the  United  States  and  was  always  so  used  in  the  settle- 
ment of  the  West.  The  Indian  name  for  "American"  is  "Soo-yaw- 
pee,"  which  means  "Su-wop,"  "ghost"  and  "Pee,"  "people"  or  "ghost 
people."  The  name  was  applied  to  them  from  the  incident  of  the  first 
meeting  with  some  "Americans"  that  must  have  been  "Yankees"  who 
were  anxious  to  trade  with  the  Indians,  always  bantering  them  to 
"swop,"  which  word  meant  "ghost"  with  the  Shoshonis.  The  word 
became  applied  to  all  "Americans"  by  almost  all  the  Rocky  Mountain 
and  Great  Basin  Indians.  Thev  have  a  distinct  name  for  a  white  man, 
but  it  is  different  with  each  tribe,  while  this  name  is  almost  univer- 
sal.— STUA RT,  Montana  As  It  Is. 

AMERICAN  FALLrt,  Power  County. — These  falls  derive  their  name  from 
the  circumstance  of  a  number  of  trappers,  members  of  some  of  the 
American  fur  companies,  in  going  down  the  Snake  River  in  canoes,  not 
aware  of  their  proximity  to  the  falls,  were  hurried  along  by  the  vio- 
lence of  the  current;  and  passing  over  the  falls,  but  one  of  their  num- 
ber survived.  This  occurred  in  the  late  '20s.  The  Hunt-Astoria  party 
(q.  v.)  were  the  first  white  men  to  see  and  visit  these  falls,  which 
they  did  as  they  passed  them  in  October,  1811,  after  losing  a  boat  in 
trying  to  get  over  them. — PALMER,  Journal  of  Travels;  IRVING, 
Astoria. 

BANNOCK. — This  word  is  of  Scotch  origin  and  means  a  thick  cake  made 
of  oatmeal,  baked  over  the  fire.  The  name  is  generally  used  for  Ban- 
nack   {q.  v.),  although  when  so  used  is  misapplied. 

52 


IDAHO    NOMENCLATURE  53 

BANNACK. — This  name  is  derived  from  a  tribe  of  Indians  that  belong  to 
the  Shoshonean  family  (q.  v.).  The  word  is  of  Shoshoni  origin  and 
means  "Bamp,"  "hair"  and  "nack,"  "a  backward  motion,"  alluding  to 
the  manner  in  which  the  tribe  wore  a  tuft  of  hair  thrown  back  from 
the  forehead.  "Bamp-nack"  was  changed  to  the  more  euphonious  word 
"Bannack"  and  is  an  entirely  different  word  from  Bannock  (q.  v.), 
which  latter  is  a  Scotch  word  and  is  always  misapplied  when  used  in 
reference  to  this  tribe  of  Indians.  They  call  themselves  "Panaita," 
which  they  claim  means  "Southern  People."  Their  habitat  was  the 
country  lying  between  Raft  River  ( q.  v. )  and  the  Portneuf  Mountains 
( q.  v.) ,  ceded  to  them  by  treaty  with  Chief  Pokatello  ( q.  v. ) .  They 
were  a  proud  but  quarrelsome  people ;  tall,  slender  and  a  lighter  com- 
plexion than  the  Shoshonis  (q.  v.),  and  while  averse  to  manual  labor, 
yet  were  the  bravest  Indians  of  the  Rocky  Mountain  region ;  they  were 
ofttimes  heartless,  cruel  and  bloodthirsty.  The  men  were  among  the 
finest  looking  of  their  race;  the  women  being  noted  as  the  ugliest  of 
western  tribes.  The  country  occupied  by  them  lay  athwart  both  the 
Oregon  and  Overland  trails  (q.v.).  By  various  treaties  they  are  now 
on  the  Fort  Hall  Indian  Reservation  {q.v.) — REES,  History  of  Lemhi 
County. 

BANNOCK  PASS,  Lemhi  County. — This  is  the  pass  over  the  Continental 
Divide  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  (q.  v.)  at  the  head  of  Horse  Prairie 
Creek,  or  Shoshoni  cove  (q.  v.),  and  is  so  called  because  it  is  the  pass 
over  which  the  wagon  road  crossed  from  Bannack,  Montana,  to  Junction, 
Idaho,  the  latter  place  being  so  named  because  it  was  at  the  junction 
of  the  Bannack  road  from  the  east  and  the  Mormon  road  from  the 
south.  It  was  through  this  pass  the  Nez  Perce  Indians  (q.  v.)  re- 
crossed  from  Montana  into  Idaho  during  their  raids  of  1877.  The 
Gilmore  &  Pittsburg  Railroad  crosses  the  Rocky  Mountains  by  tunnel- 
ing under  this  pass. 

BANNACK  INDIAN  WAR.— The  first  treaty  made  between  the  United 
States  and  the  Bannacks  (q.  v.)  was  at  Box  Elder,  Utah,  in  1863. 
Among  other  things  it  stipulated,  "The  country  claimed  by  Pokatello, 
for  himself  and  his  people  is  bounded  on  the  west  by  Raft  River  and 
on  the  east  by  the  Portneuf  Mountains."  This  treaty  having  served 
its  purpose,  another  was  entered  into  at  Fort  Bridger,  Utah,  in  1808, 
stating,  "It  is  agreed  that  whenever  the  Bannacks  desire  a  reservation 
to  be  set  apart  for  their  use,  or  whenever  the  President  of  the  United 
States  shall  deem  it  advisable  for  them  to  be  put  upon  a  reservation, 
he  shall  cause  a  suitable  one  to  be  selected  for  them  in  their  present 
country,  which  shall  embrace  reasonable  portions  of  'Portneuf  and 
'Kansas  Prairie'  countries."  In  1800,  President  Grant  set  aside.  In- 
executive  order,  the  Fort  Hall  Indian  Reservation  (q.  v.)  for  the  Ban- 
nacks (7.  v.).  among  other  Indians  of  southern  Idaho,  but  nothing  was 
done  about  the  "Kansas  Prairie"  country,  although  the  Government 
officials  knew  about  the  mistake  in  the  word  "Kansas"  and  that  the 
Indians  claimed  "Camas  Prairie,"  where  they  had  for  times  past  gath- 


54  IDAHO    NOMENCLATURE 

ered  the  camas  root  (q.  v.),  yet  the  "Camas  Prairie"  country  was 
thrown  open  to  settlement  by  the  whites.  This  infringement  of  the 
Indian's  right,  guaranteed  by  treaty,  and  the  ambitions  of  Buffalo  Horn 
( q.  v. )  were  the  cause  of  this  war. 
BATTUE}  OF  BEAR  RIVER,  Franklin  County.— In  the  three  hundred  years' 
contest  on  the  American  continent  between  the  white  and  the  red  man 
for  supremacy,  a  victory  for  the  white  man  was  called  a  "battle,"  but 
a  victory  for  the  red  man  was  called  a  "massacre."  A  massacre  occurs 
where  one  side  is  helpless  and  the  other,  being  armed,  proceeds  to  slay 
without  possible  resistance.  Indians  have  massacred  unarmed  white 
men.  women  and  children,  and  likewise  the  whites  have  massacred 
unarmed  red  men,  women  and  children.  •  At  Little  Big  Horn,  on  June 
25,  1876,  the  Indians  threw  down  the  gage  of  battle.  General  Custer 
accepted  it,  and  in  the  fight  which  ensued  his  entire  command  of  264 
men,  except  a  scout,  was  killed.  This  is  called  the  Custer  "massacre." 
At  Bear  River,  on  January  29,  1863,  General  Connor  threw  down  the 
gage  of  battle  and  Chief  Pokatello  {q.  v.)  accepted  it,  and  in  the  fight 
which  ensued  267  Indians,  of  which  ninety  were  women  and  children, 
were  killed  and  only  sixteen  of  his  followers  escaped.  This  is  called  a 
"battle."     Such  nomenclature  is  scarcely  consistent. 

BEAR. — This  word  is  of  Anglo-Saxon  origin  and  means  "warrior,"  coming 
from  the  practice  of  giving  names  of  fierce  animals  to  men  of  valor. 
It  belongs  to  the  LTrsus  family;  the  grizzly  being  the  king  of  American 
wild  beasts.  Its  color  varies,  sometimes  having  a  preponderance  of 
white  and  called  the  "white  bear,"  especially  by  Lewis  and  Clark.  The 
grizzly  is  about  six  feet  in  length  and  averages  about  five  hundred 
pounds  in  weight;  exceedingly  powerful  and  extremely  tenacious  of  life. 
All  bears  hibernate  (winter  sleep),  but  before  doing  so  grow  very  fat 
(bear  grease),  which  is  gradually  consumed  by  the  system  to  sustain 
life  during  the  winter.  The  young  are  born  in  midwinter,  naked  and 
blind,  requiring  five  weeks  before  they  can  see  and  become  covered 
with  hair.  From  the  days  of  the  earliest  explorers  of  the  Rocky 
Mountain  regions,  grizzly  bears  have  borne  the  undisputed  title  of 
America's  fiercest  and  most  dangerous  big  game.  In  early  days,  hav- 
ing little  fear  of  the  primitive  weapons  of  the  Indians,  they  were  bold 
and  indifferent  to  the  presence  of  man,  and  no  higher  badge  of  supreme 
courage  and  prowess  could  be  gained  than  a  necklace  of  grizzly  claws. — 
GEOGRAPHIC  MAGAZINE,  Vorcmber,  191G. 

BEAR  RIVER  AND  LAKE,  Bear  Lake  County.— A  fur  trapping  party 
composed  of  Hoback,  Rezner,  Robinson,  Cass  and  Miller  of  the  Hunt- 
Astoria  party  (q.  v.)  were  the  first  white  men  upon  these  waters, 
trapping  the  region  in  the  winter  of  1  SI  1-12.  They  called  the  stream 
Miller  River  for  one  of  their  party.  In  1818,  Donald  Mackenzie, 
leader  of  the  Snake  country  expedition  (a.  v.),  wishing  to  examine 
the  country  south  of  the  Snake  River,  journeved  to  Bear  River  and  to 
the  lake  which  drained  into  it.  He  called  the  body  of  water  Black 
Bear  Lake  from  the  number  of  black  bear  (q.  v.)  which  he  saw  in  that 


IDAHO    NOMENCLATURE  55 

vicinity.  To  Ashley's  men  in  182G  it  was  known  as  Little  Lake  in 
distinction  from  the  Great  Lake  farther  west,  and  Bear  River  was 
spoken  of  by  them  as  waters  that  flowed  into  the  Pacific.  Part  of 
this  lake  was  in  Spanish  territory,  being  south  of  42°,  but  there  is  no 
evidence  of  any  exploration  made  by  them.  The  Shoshonis  called  this 
river  "Quee-yaw  pah,"  meaning  "Quee-paw,"  ''tobacco  root,"  and  "pah," 
"water,"  or  "the  stream  along  which  the  tobacco  root  grew."  This  root 
grew  along  this  stream  in  abundance,  producing  a  food  which  the 
Indians  used  extensively. — IRYIXG,  Astoria,;  DALE,  Ashley-Smith 
Explorations. 

BEAVER. — This  is  a  rodent  of  the  Castor  family,  about  two  feet  in  length, 
averaging  forty  pounds  in  weight,  and  is  covered  with  long,  coarse 
hairs  overlying  a  short,  dense  and  silky  underfur,  to  which  the  beaver 
skin  owes  its  value.  It  is  the  architect  and  engineer  of  the  animal 
world,  and  soon  after  cutting  down  a  willow,  sapling  or  tree  converts 
it  into  a  water-logged  piece  of  timber  which  sinks  in  water  almost 
as  readily  as  stone.  The  process  by  which  this  is  accomplished  is 
not  understood,  but  in  some  manner  all  sap  is  extracted  from  the  wood, 
and  the  air  and  sap  cells  become  charged  with  water.  Among  fur 
traders  and  trappers  its  skin  was  the  unit  of  value  by  which  barter  was 
conducted  for  all  sorts  of  commodities,  and  was  used  as  the  standard 
of  all  values  until  placer  mining  caused  gold  dust  to  usurp  the  func- 
tion of  the  beaver  skin  as  a  circulating  medium.  The  tail  of  the  beaver, 
the  tongue  of  the  buffalo  and  the  paw  of  the  bear  were  always  consid- 
ered the  richest  delicacies  which  the  mountains  afforded. — GEO- 
GRAPHIC  MAGAZINE,   November,   1916. 

BEAVER  CANYON  AND  CREEK.  Fremont  County.— This  stream  was  so 
named  from  the  immense  number  of  beaver  which,  in  the  early  days, 
inhabited  its  waters.  In  1841,  Father  De  Smet  (q.  v.)  passed  thru 
this  canyon  en  route  to  the  Bitterroot  Valley,  after  which  it /was  called 
"The  Father's  Defile,"  and  the  stream  was  named  "St.  Francis  Xavier," 
but  these  names  did  not  survive.  The  rush  of  gold  miners  from  Colo- 
rado and  the  East  to  the  Montana  placer  fields  from  and  after  1868 
passed  up  this  creek,  thru  the  canyon  and  over  the  Rocky  Mountains. 
A  road  was  soon  established  by  immigration,  and  finally  became  the 
Salt  Lake-Helena  stage  route  and  was  eventually  traversed  by  the  Utah 
Northern  (q.  v.),  a  narrow  gauge  road  which  Avas  subsequently 
standardized  and  made  a  part  of  the  Oregon  Short  Line  System.  The 
canyon  is  noted  for  heavy  snow  falls  and  blockades. 

BEER  SPRINGS,  Bannock  County.— The  place  in  which  they  are  situated 
is  a  basin  of  mineral  waters  enclosed  by  the  mountains,  which  sweep 
around  a  circular  bend  of  Bear  River  at  its  most  northern  point.  A 
pretty  little  stream  of  clear  water  enters  the  upper  part  of  the  basin 
from  an  open  valley  in  the  mountains,  passing  thru  the  bottom,  dis- 
charges into  Bear  River.  On  account  of  their  efTerveseing  gas  and  acid 
taste,  these  springs  received  their  name  from  the  voyageurs  and  trap- 
pers of  the  country,  who,  in  the  midst  of  their  rude  and  hard  lives,  were 


5C  IDAHO    NOMENCLATURE 

fond  of  finding  some  fancied  resemblance  to  the  luxuries  they  rarely 
had  the  good  fortune  to  enjoy.  They  are  now  called  Soda  Springs 
(q.  v.) — FREMONT,  Exploring  Expedition. 

BERRY  CREEK,  Lemhi  County. — Named  by  Captain  Clark  on  August  23, 
1805,  as  he  exhausted  there  his  supply  of  provisions  and  was  forced 
to  live  on  berries,  of  which  this  creek  furnished  an  ample  supply.  The 
stream  is  now  called  Indian  Creek  and  flows  into  the  Salmon  River, 
near  Shoup   ( q.  v. ) . 

BITTERROOT  MOUNTAINS.— This  name  is  derived  from  a  beautiful 
mountain  flower  that  blooms  in  June  and  is  common  to  many  of  the 
valleys  of  the  West,  but  it  seems  to  thrive  most  extensively  in  the 
Bitterroot  Valley,  Montana,  and  this  circumstance  has  given  to  the 
valley  its  name,  from  which  the  mountain  derived  its  designation. 
The  petals  of  this  flower  are  of  a  beautiful  delicate  pink  or  rose  color ; 
the  root  is  edible,  and  was  formerly  much  used  by  the  Indians  and 
mountaineers  for  food,  but  it  is  very  bitter.  The  botanical  name  of 
the  plant  is  Lewisia  rediviva,  after  Captain  Meriwether  Lewis.  It  is 
the  State  flower  of  Montana,  and  is  entirely  worthy  of  the  honor  thus 
shown. — WHEELER,  Trail  of  Lewis  and  Clark. 

BLACKFOOT,  Bingham  County. — This  name  is  derived  from  a  tribe  of 
Indians  that  inhabited  Montana  and  was  first  applied  to  Blackfoot 
Lake,  or  marshes,  in  1819,  by  Donald  Mackenzie  while  leading  the 
Snake  country  expedition  ( q.  v . ) ,  because  he  found  some  of  that  tribe 
wandering  in  the  vicinity  of  the  headwaters  of  the  Blackfoot  River. 
This  tribe  called  themselves  "Siksika,"  meaning  "Siksi,"  "black,"  and 
"kah,"  a  contraction  of  their  word  for  "foot,"  or  "Blackfoot  People," 
alluding  to  their  "black  feet"  made  by  continual  roving  thru  the  ashes 
of  the  countries  which  they  had  devastated  by  fire.  They  belonged  to 
the  Algonquian,  the  largest  family  of  Indians  in  the  United  States,  and 
are  known  under  three  divisions :  Blackfeet,  Piegans  and  Bloods. 
They  were  hostile  to  nearly  all  surrounding  tribes,  and  belonging  to 
the  predatory  class  of  Indians,  their  wanderings  were  very  extensive, 
and  as  they  constantly  invaded  the  country  of  their  neighbors,  they 
lived  in  a  state  of  perpetual  warfare.  The  Marias  River  Valley,  Mon 
tana,  was  their  habitat,  but  they  were  considered  the  devils  of  both  the 
mountains  and  prairies.  Not  alone  the  whites  but  the  Indians  also 
suffered  from  their  hatred  and  bloodthirstiness.  The  religious  Flat- 
head or  Salish  (q.  v.),  the  proud  Nez  Perce  or  Chopunnish  (q.  v.),  the 
thieving  Crow  or  Absaroka,  the  wandering  Snake  or  Shoshoni  {q.  v.), 
and  others,  all  were  at  feud  with  the  Blackfeet  because  the  latter  per- 
sisted in  being  the  copper-colored  Ishmaelites  among  the  tribes. — 
WHEELER,  Trail  of  Lewis  and  Clark;  CHITTENDEN,  American  Fur 
Trade:  HANDBOOK  of  American  Indians. 

BOISE  RIVER,  Ada  County. — Owing  to  the  many  whirlpools  in  this  river, 
the  Shoshonis  called  it  the  "Wihinast,"  meaning  "boiling  rapidly."  In 
1813.  John  Reed  of  the  American  Fur  Company  was  murdered  by  the 
Indians  while  trapping  along  this  stream,  from  which  incident  it  was 


IDAHO    NOMENCLATURE  57 

called  Reed's  River  (q.  v.).  In  1819,  Donald  Mackenzie  started  to  erect 
an  establishment  at  the  mouth  of  this  stream,  which  river  he  called 
the  Skamnaugh,  for  a  tribe  of  the  Nez  Perce  Indians  of  that  name 
which  then  inhabited  it,  and  it  was  always  so  called  afterwards  by 
the  Hudson  Bay  Company  and  trappers.  In  1834,  some  French- 
Canadian  explorers,  a  part  of  Captain  Bonneville's  expedition,  pitched 
camp  on  the  mesa  overlooking  the  site  where  Boise  now  stands,  and 
looked  down  upon  the  valley  thru  which  rippled  a  river  of  surpassing 
loveliness  thru  ranks  of  nodding  poplars.  They  had  traveled  for  many 
days  thru  the  dust  and  sage-brush  in  the  heat  of  summer;  they  had 
not  seen  a  tree  for  hundreds  of  miles.  When  they  saw  the  trees  along 
the  river  they  exclaimed,  "Les  hois,  les  hois!  Voyez  les  5ots/"  mean- 
ing "The  woods,  the  woods!  See  the  woods!"  This  river  was  sometimes 
called  the  "wooded  stream."  The  above  circumstance  occurred  during 
Bonneville's  itinerary  (q.v.). — FRENCH,  History  of  Idaho. 
BONNEVILLE'S  ITINERARY.— Washington  living's  "Adventures  of 
Captain  Bonneville"  is  one  of  the  most  pleasing  romances  extant.  The 
captain  left  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  in  May,  1832,  with  a  party  of  110 
men,  traveled  up  the  Platte  River,  crossed  thru  South  Pass  {q.v.)  to 
Green  River,  Wyoming.  His  party  entered  Idaho  by  the  way  of  Teton 
Pass  (q.v.)  on  September  3,  1832,  passed  thru  Teton  Basin,  then 
called  Pierre's  Hole  ( q.  v. ) ,  thence  down  Pierre  River,  across  Snake 
River  ( q.  v. ) ,  and  from  thence  by  Mud  Lake  and  Birch  Creek,  then 
called  John  Day's  Defile  ( q.  v. ) ,  to  the  headwaters  of  Lemhi  River 
(q.v.),  which  he  reached  September  19.  He  passed  down  the  Lemhi 
River  until  he  came  to  the  Lewis  and  Clark  trail  (q.v.),  which  he 
followed,  going  down  the  Salmon  River  (q.v.)  until  he  came,  on  Sep- 
tember 26th,  to  Salmon  Creek  (q.v.),  now  called  Carmen  Creek,  at 
the  place  where  the  trail  crosses,  which  was  near  the  mouth  of  the 
creek.  Here  he  erected  a  temporary  fortification,  built  some  horse 
corrals  and  log  cabins,  slight  evidences  of  which  are  still  to  be  seen. 
At  this  place,  called  Bonneville's  Fort  on  the  Salmon  River,  he  was  in 
the  full  enjoyment  of  his  wishes,  leading  a  hunter's  life  in  the  heart  of 
the  wilderness.  He  left  this  fort  November  20th,  passed  along  Lemhi 
River  and  Timber  Creek,  a  fork  of  the  Lemhi,  until  he  came  to  the 
deep  gorge,  at  present  a  reclamation  dam  site,  on  Timber  Creek,  thru 
which  he  passed  December  19th,  and  held  his  Christmas  festivities  in 
Swan  Basin  on  said  creek.  He  then  proceeded  down  Birch  Creek  to 
its  "sinks."  which  is  in  the  vicinity  of  the  "sinks"  of  Big  Lost  River 
(q.v.),  then  called  Goddin  River  (q.v.).  He  followed  Goddin  River 
to  the  vicinity  of  Pioneer  (q.v.),  and  from  thence  to  the  Big  Butte 
(q.v.),  where  he  struck  the  trail  going  to  the  Snake  River  (q.v.), 
arriving  on  that  stream  just  south  of  Blackfoot  (q.v.),  which  place 
he  reached  on  January  12,  1833.  On  March  13th  he  arrived  at  his 
fort  on  Salmon  River,  having  returned  over  the  route  he  had  traveled 
in  going.  From  his  fort  he  proceeded  up  or  south  along  Salmon  River, 
thence  up  the  Pahsimaroi  (q.  v.),  thru  Double  Spring  Pass  to  Thousand 


58  IDAHO    NOMENCLATURE 

Spring  Valley  on  Big  Lost  or  Goddin  River,  "where  he  trapped  for 
muskrats.  Thence  he  passed  down  this  stream,  skirted  the  moun- 
tains, and  on  April  20th  was  on  Little  Wood  River.  After  trapping 
awhile  he  returned  to  the  caches  he  had  made  at  the  fort  on  Salmon 
River,  arriving  there  June  loth,  and  from  thence  back  to  Snake  River 
and  to  Horse  Creek,  Wyoming.  After  trapping  in  the  Bighorn  Moun- 
tains he  returned  to  Idaho  at  Bear  River  on  November  1st,  and  thence 
to  Soda  Springs  (q.  v.),  after  which  he  went  into  winter  quarters  at 
.  Batise  Springs  on  the  Portneuf  River  (q.v.)  in  November,  1833.  He 
left  this  camp  on  Christmas  Day,  going  down  the  south  bank  of  the 
Snake  River  and  passing  American  Falls  (q.v.),  Cassia  Creek  (q.v.), 
Fishing  Falls  {q.v.)  and  Bruneau  River  (q.v.),  thru  the  Blue  Moun- 
tains, arriving  at  Fort  Walla  Walla,  March  4,  1834,  returning  to  the 
Portneuf,  over  the  same  route,  by  May  21st,  thence  to  Bear  River,  which 
place  he  left  July  3d  with  a  considerable  party,  going  to  the  Columbia 
River  {q.v.),  reaching  his  destination  in  September,  but  retraced  his 
steps  at  once,  and  in  October  was  back  on  the  Portneuf,  thence  to  Bear 

River  (q.  v.)  A  reaching  his  destination  in  September,  but  he  retraced  his 
by  the  way  of  Green  River,  he  finally  returned  to  the  United  States 
army,  from  whence  he  had  come. — IRVING,  Adventures  of  Captain 
Bonneville. 

BONNER'S  FERRY,  Boundary  County.— "That  E.  L.  Bonner,  R.  A.  Edding 
and  John  W.  Walton,  their  heirs  and  assigns,  be  and  they  are  hereby 
authorized  to  establish  a  ferry  across  the  Kootenai  River,  at  a  point 
known  as  Bonner's  Ferry,  or  Chulimtah." — Laics  of  the  Territory  of 
Idaho,  Second  Session,  186.ff. 

BORAH,  Power  County. — Named  for  Hon.  William  E.  Borah,  who  was  born 
in  Wayne  County,  Illinois,  June  20,  1865;  graduated  at  the  Kansas 
State  University,  1890;  moved  to  Idaho  and  entered  upon  the  practice 
of  law,  1891 ;  United  States  senator  for  Idaho,  1907-18. — Congres- 
sional Directory. 

BOUNDARY. — This  county  was  so  named  because  it  joined  the  boundary 
line  between  the  United  States  and  Canada.  When  Captain  Robert 
Gray  discovered  the  Columbia  River  ( q.  v. )  the  United  States  claimed 
all  the  country  which  it  drained  and  as  far  north  as  54°  40',  while 
England  claimed  this  same  country  and  as  far  south  as  the  Columbia 
and  Snake  rivers  (q.v.).  The  British  endeavored  to  discourage  and 
prevent  settlement  and  colonization,  and  always  antagonized  the  agri- 
cultural and  mining  interests,  allowing  the  Hudson  Bay  Company 
[q.  v.)  to  exercise  absolute  monopoly  over  this  territory.  They  infested 
it  with  fur  traders  and  trappers,  and  wanted  it  to  remain  forever  in  a 
primeval  condition  as  a  hunting  and  trapping  ground,  inhabited  only 
by  Indians,  halfbreeds  and  fur-bearing  animals.  The  people  of  the 
United  States  wanted  to  settle  the  country  and  make  homes  therein, 
and  when  the  undaunted  American  pioneer  (q.v.)  settled  down  and 
began  his  home-building  it  brought  the  subject  of  the  boundary  forward 
at  once,  which  was  finally  settled  by  making  49°  north  latitude  that 


IDAHO    NOMENCLATURE  59 

line,   and    thus   the   fur    regime   was    ended. — BANCROFT,    History   of 
Oregon. 

BRADY,  Lincoln  County. — Named  for  Hon.  James  H.  Brady,  who  was  born 
in  Pennsylvania;  graduated  at  Leavenworth  Normal  School,  Kansas; 
moved  to  Idaho  in  1895  and  made  a  fortune  in  irrigation  and  electric 
business;  governor  of  Idaho,  1909-11;  United  States  senator  for  Idaho, 
1913-18;  died  in  Washington,  District  of  Columbia,  1918. — Congres- 
sional Directory. 

BR UNEAU  RIVER.  Owyhee  County.— This  word  is  of  French  origin  and 
was  applied  to  this  stream  in  1818  by  the  French  Canadians  of  Donald 
Mackenzie's  trapping  party  of  Hudson  Bay  men,  and  means  "Brun," 
'"dark,"  or  "gloomy,"  and  "eau,"  "water."  Many  of  the  tributary 
streams  of  the  Snake  River  rivaled  it  in  wildness  and  picturesqueness 
of  their  scenery,  and  the  Bruneau  was  one  of  them.  It  runs  thru  a 
tremendous  chasm,  rather  than  a  valley,  extending  upward  of  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  miles.  Basaltic  rocks  rise  perpendicular  everywhere, 
and  the  country  appears  an  indescribable  chaos.  Thru  the  deep  cracks 
and  chasms  the  river  makes  its  way. — IRVING,  Adventures  of  Captain 
Bonneville. 

BUFFALO. — The  American  specie  of  this  animal  was  the  bison  which 
formed  an  immense  herd  extending  over  the  plains  from  the  Rio  Grande 
to  the  Saskatchewan.  Those  that  inhabited  the  western  slope  of  the 
,  Rocky  Mountains  (q.v.)  differed  slightly  from  the  plains  bison  in  that 
they  were  generally  smaller,  more  active  and  shyer,  with  finer  and 
silkier  robes.  In  habits  they  resembled  the  moose.  The  Union  Pacific 
Railroad  divided  the  plains  herd  into  a  southern  or  Texas  and  a 
northern  or  Yellowstone  herd,  all  of  which  were  exterminated  as  wild 
animals  in  the  closing  years  of  the  nineteenth  century.  Captain  Fre- 
mont writes  that  our  knowledge  does  not  go  further  back  than  the 
spring  of  1824,  at  which  time  the  buffalo  were  spread  in  immense  num- 
bers over  the  Green  and  Bear  River  valleys,  and  thru  all  the  country 
lying  between  the  Colorado  and  Lewis'  Fork  of  the  Columbia  River: 
the  meridian  of  Fort  Hall  then  forming  the  western  limit  of  their  range. 
The  buffalo  remained  for  manv  vears  in  that  country,  and  frequently 
moved  down  the  valley  of  the  Columbia,  on  both  sides  of  the  river,  as 
far  as  Fishing  Falls.  Below  this  point  they  never  descended  in  any 
numbers.  About  the  year  1834  they  began  to  diminish  very  rapidly 
and  continued  to  decrease  until  1840,  when,  with  the  country  we  have 
just  described,  they  entirely  abandoned  all  the  waters  of  the  Pacific 
north  of  Lewis'  Fork  of  the  Columbia.  Either  severe  winters  or  disease 
caused  this  decline  and  abandonment.  At  that  time  the  Flathead 
Indians  were  in  the  habit  of  finding  their  buffalo  on  the  heads  of  Salmon 
River  and  other  streams  of  the  Columbia  :  but  now  they  never  meet 
with  them  farther  west  than  the  three  forks  of  the  Missouri  on  the 
plains  of  the  Yellowstone.— FRF  I/O  XT.  Exploring  Expedition. 

BUFFALO  HORN.— This  chief  was  of  royal  Indian  ldood.  his  grandfather 
on  his   father's    side  being  a   Bannack.   Chief  Teehee.   and   his  grand- 


GO  IDAHO    NOMENCLATURE 


father  on  his  mother's  side  being  a  Pahute,  Chief  Winnimucca.  His 
name  originated  from  the  circumstance  of  the  death  of  his  grandfather, 
Teehee  {q.v.),  the  grandson  partaking  of  the  charmed  life  in  that 
from  a  bit  of  buffalo  horn,  which  had  laid  low  the  old  chief,  would  come 
a  more  propitious  chief  better  fortified  to  defy  death.  The  Indian 
expression  from  which  the  word  Buffalo  Horn  is  derived,  conveys  a 
thought  meaning  a  weird  and  charmed  life.  As  a  young  man  he  soon 
became  a  warrior  in  his  tribe  and  served  as  scout  under  Generals  Miles 
and  Custer  against  the  Sioux  in  Montana.  In  1877,  a  company  of 
young  Bannack  warriors,  led  by  Buffalo  Horn,  rendered  considerable 
service  to  Gen.  O.  O.  Howard  by  acting  as  scouts  against  the  Nez 
Perces.  He  soon  became  the  war  chief  of  the  Bannacks,  and  his  cousin 
Egan  was  war  chief  of  the  Pahutes  of  Oregon.  The  encroachments  of 
the  whites  and  the  persistent  failure  of  Congress  and  the  Government 
to  carry  out  the  treaties  made  with  the  Indians  created  a  great  wave 
of  unrest  among  them  during  the  later  '70s.  With  the  ambition  that 
went  with  the  chieftainship,  Buffalo  Horn  conceived  a  confederacy  of 
red  men  with  the  purpose  of  wiping  out  the  white  man  entirely,  and 
while  it  was  the  last  attempt  at  a  great  confederacy  on  this  conti- 
nent, yet  it  had  the  makeup  of  one  of  the  most  successful.  Mrs.  C.  A. 
Strahorn  writes :  "The  Bannack  war  of  1878  was  a  final  attempt  to  unite 
•all  warlike  Indians  and  to  totally  annihilate  every  man,  woman  and 
child  of  the  white  race  on  the  Overland  route  thru  to  the  coast.  It 
was  only  by  strategic  and  united  work  of  the  whites  and  some  friendly 
Indians  that  the  worst  massacre  of  the  age  was  averted."  The  con- 
federacy existed  among  most  of  the  tribes  of  Idaho,  eastern  Oregon 
and  Washington,  and  even  the  old  peace  chief,  Winnimucca  of  Nevada, 
was  for  a  time  persuaded  and  did  join  them.  The  army  was  caught 
unawares  by  reason  of  Buffalo  Horn's  pretended  friendship.  The  con- 
federacy planned  in  1855  by  Kamiakin  (q.v.)  is  the  only  one  in  the 
West  that  came  near  equaling  this.  Playing  upon  the  mutual  jeal- 
ousies of  the  tribes  saved  the  unarmed  and  defenseless  settlers.  Some 
volunteers  persuaded  Pahute  Joe,  who  held  a  grudge  against  Buffalo 
Horn,  to  entice  the  chief  to  one  side,  which  he  did  at  the  battle  of 
South  Mountain,  Idaho,  where  he  was  shot  and  killed.  The  result  of 
this  war  would  have  been  very  different  had  not  Chief  Buffalo  Horn 
been  killed  at  the  inception  of  hostilities.  This  act  proved  disastrous 
to  the  Indian  cause  and  put  an  early  end  to  the  war.  The  leadership 
then  fell  ur>on  Chief  Egan,  who  was  not  equal  to  the  occasion,  and  the 
Cayuse  allies,  realizing  that  failure  was  inevitable,  turned  on  their 
associates  and  sent  their  leader,  U-mah-pie,  who  was  notorious  as  an 
atrocious  and  brutal  Tnrlian,  to  treacherously  murder  Chief  Egan, 
which  he  did  while  in  the  Blue  Mountains,  after  which  the  hostile 
tribes  broke  up  into  small  squads  and  either  returned  to  their  reserva- 
tions or  surrendered. 

BUFFALO   HUMP.    Tdaho    County.— This   is    a    volcanic   cone   and   was   so 
called  by  the  miners  in  1862  either  because  of  its  resemblance  to  the 


IDAHO    NOMENCLATURE  61 

hump  of  the  buffalo  or  because  the  Indians  called  it  "See-niinp,"  mean- 
ing '"the  buffalo's  hump."  It  was  reported  to  .Sir.  Bancroft  that 
.Buffalo  Hump,  an  isolated  butte,  on  many  occasions  sent  up  smoke  and 
columns  of  molten  lava  in  18G0,  and  that  liaines  shot  high  in  the  air 
and  rumbling  noises  accompanied  the  overflow. — BANCROFT,  History 
of  U  ashington,  Idaho  and  Montana. 

BLTfFS  TRIOS,  Butte  County. — These  are  three  conspicuous  elevations  of 
volcanic  cones  situated  on  the  Snake  River  plains  (q.  v.)  and  can  be 
seen  a  great  many  miles  away  and  have  always  been  familiar  objects 
for  parties  passing  that  way.  in  1825,  the  French  Canadian  trappers 
of  Peter  Skene  Ogden's  command  called  them  the  "buttes,"  which  in 
French  means  "knolls."  "Trios"  is  the  French  word  for  "three."  Bin 
Butte  was  held  in  awe  by  the  Indians,  and  was  called  by  them  "Pee-ah," 
meaning  "large,"  and  "Car-did,"  "stay,"  referring  to  its  permanency 
and  to  that  feeling  of  safety  which  the  sight  of  it  gave  to  any  one 
drifting  or  perhaps  lost  in  the  ever  sameness  of  the  trackless  Snake 
River  plains  and  desert. 

CACHE,  Teton  County. — This  is  the  place  where  some  Hudson  Bay  trap- 
pers, who  were  the  first  white  men  in  Pierre's  Hole  ( q.  v. ) ,  cached  some 
furs.  The  word  is  French,  "cacher"  meaning  "to  hide."  In  western 
pioneering  it  became  necessary  at  times  to  abandon  temporarily  some 
articles  with  the  intention  of  returning  afterwards  for  them.  The 
property  so  abandoned  was  cached  or  concealed  so  as  to  prevent  its 
loss  or  injury.  As  ordinarily  prepared,  it  consisted  of  a  deep  pit  in  the 
ground  in  the  construction  of  which  the  point  of  paramount  importance 
was  to  avoid  any  trace  of  the  work  which  might  attract  attention  when 
completed.  The  best  site  was  in  dry  soil.  The  pit  was  lined  with 
sticks  and  dry  leaves  and  the  goods  deposited  therein.  The  conceal- 
ment consisted  in  removing  all  evidence  of  the  cache  and  leaving  the 
ground  looking  just  as  it  did  before.  If  in  turf,  the  sod  was  scru- 
pulously replaced ;  in  other  places  a  campfire  was  built  over  the 
cache,  serving  to  divert  attention.  Occasionally  caches  were  made  in 
the  sides  of  vertical  cliffs,  also  in  trunks  of  trees,  in  clefts  of  rocks 
and  other  places,  but  nearly  always  in  the  ground.  When  the  cache 
was  opened  it  was  said  to  be  "raised,"  and  if  broken  into  by  those  who 
had  no  right  to  do  so  they  were  said  to  be  "lifted."  Caches  sometime- 
attained  notoriety  and  have  left  their  names  in  various  localities. — 
CHITTENDEN,  American  Fur  Trade. 

CALDRON  LI XX,  Twin  Falls  County.— This  is  the  point  on  Snake  River 
that  was  reached  on  October  28,  1811,  by  the  Hunt-Astoria  party 
{q.  v.),  and  is  now  known  as  Milner.  The  name  was  given  by  some 
Scotchman,  probably  Ramsey  Crooks  or  Donald  Mackenzie,  as  the  word 
is  from  the  Scotch,  lyn,  meaning  a  pool  of  water  in  a  perturbed  state, 
as  at  the  foot  of  a  waterfall. — IRVING,  Astoria. 

CAMAS,  Jefferson  County. — This  name  comes  from  the  Chinook  language 
(q.v.)  and  means  "sweet."  It  is  also  spelled  Kamas  and  Quamash. 
The  camas  is  a  western  plant  having  a  typical  blue  flower  and  edible 


02  IDAHO    NOMENCLATURE 

bulb.  The  Shoshonis  call  it  "Pahsego,"  meaning  "Pah/5  "water"  and 
"sego,"  "a  bulbous  root,"  as  it  grows  on  the  high  moist  benches  of  tue 
Rocky  Mountains.  It  belongs  to  the  Lily  family,  which  furnished  the 
Indians  the  greater  part  of  their  root  food.  In  the  commissary  depart- 
ment of  the  natives  it  occupied  a  place  similar  to  bread  in  the  diet  of 
the  agricultural  nations,  and  while  resembling  an  onion  it  was  very 
nutritious.  It  formed  an  important  food  among  all  western  tribes, 
and  when  properly  dried  kept  for  years.  The  bulb  is  usually  prepared 
for  food  by  prolonged  steaming,  requiring  about  three  days  to  properly 
cook.  The  annual  gathering  of  the  camas  root  occurred  in  June  and 
July  when  it  was  considered  ripe. — BANCROFT,  History  of  ^Yashing- 
ton,  Idaho  and  Montana. 

CAMAS  PRAIRIES. — There  are  many  camas  prairies  in  the  West,  so  named 
because  the  camas  {q.  v.)  root  grew  so  abundantly  thereon.  Big  Camas 
Prairie  is  situated  in  Camas  County,  giving  the  county  its  name,  and 
was  the  bone  of  contention  which  caused  the  Bannack  war  (q.  v.)  of 
1878,  as  the  Indians  always  claimed  a  part  at  least  of  this  prairie. 
Little  Camas  Prairie  is  situated  in  Elmore  County  and  is  a  continua- 
tion of  Big  Camas  Prairie.  North  Camas  Prairie  lies  between  the 
Clearwater  ami  the  Salmon  rivers,  in  Idaho  County,  and  was  the  scene 
of  many  massacres  of  whites1  by  the  Nez  Perces  in  the  war  of  1877. 
The  greater  part  of  these  bodies  of  land  are  now  converted  into  splendid 
farms  and  homes. 

(  AMEAHWA1T. — This  was  the  name  of  the  chief  of  the  Shoshonis  that 
inhabited  Lemhi  (q.v.)  at  the  time  Lewis  and  Clark  entered  Idaho. 
The  name  means  "Ka,"  "not,"  "mee-ah,"  "to  go,"  and  "wait,"  "incline," 
or  "not  inclined  to  go."  It  is  pronounced  Ka-me-ah-wate.  This  name 
was  no  doubt  given  to  the  chieftain  at  the  time  of  the  white  man's  visit 
when  Captain  Lewis  came  into  Lemhi  from  Shoshone  Cove  {q.v.)  to 
get  the  Indians  to  help  his  party,  then  at  what  is  now  Armstead,  Mon- 
tana, over  the  mountain  divide.  The  chief  at  first  did  not  want  to  do 
this,  but  later  was  persuaded  to  go,  with  horses,  and  move  the 
explorers  and  their  camp  into  Lemhi.  In  persuading  him  to  do  this, 
Captain  LewTis  offered  him  many  inducements,  relating  to  him  the  fact 
concerning  his  sister,  Sacagawea  {q.v.),  being  a  member  of  the  expedi- 
tion, which  did  not  affect  him  to  any  considerable  extent;  but  finally, 
when  told  of  the  colored  man,  describing  him  as  a  "black  white  man" 
with  "buffalo  hair"  on  his  head,  it  created  so  much  curiosity  that  the 
whole  tribe  became  anxious  to  go  at  once  and  see  the  negro.  Lewis 
and  Clark  state  that  he  had  another  name,  "Tooettecone,"  which  meant 
"black  gun,"  but  properly  translated  means  "Too,"  "black,"  "ite," 
"gun"  and  "coon,"  "fire,"  or  "He  fires  the  black  gun,"  showing  that  it 
was  during  his  lifetime  that  this  tribe  became  possessed  of  firearms. — 
REES,   Hist  ory  of  Lemhi  County. 

CANADIAN  FRENCH. — The  majority  of  voyageurs,  hunters  and  trappers 
which  were  employed  by  the  Hudson  Bay  and  Northwest  Fur  companies 
were  French  from  Canada,  and  usually  being  the  first  white  people  to 


IDAHO    NOMENCLATURE  o:i 

visit  the  fur-producing  sections  of  the  country,  gave  names  to  many 
places  and  objects,  many  of  which  survive  to  this  day  as  is  exhibited 
in  Idaho  geography.  They  were  in  parts  of  the  Rocky  Mountains 
before  the  coming  of  Lewis  and  Clark  and  from  1820-30  had  explored 
.  quite  extensively  the  Snake  River  and  its  tributaries. 

CAYUSE. — This  is  a  word  which  the  stockmen  have  inherited  from  the 
tribes  and  refers  to  a  breed  of  Indian  ponies.  The  Shoshonis  were  the 
first  western  tribe  to  acquire  horses,  having  procured  them  thru  their 
relatives,  the  Moquis,  who  were  the  first  to  come  in  contact  with  the 
Spaniards.  The  rugged  and  versatile  Indian  pony  is  a  descendant  from 
those  Spanish-Mexican  horses.  Their  name  is  derived  from  the  Cayuse 
Indians  of  Oregon,  who  were  extensive  breeders  and  growers  of  the 
pony,  and  the  word  has  extended  thruout  the  West.  Cayuse  is  from 
the  French  "cailloux,"  meaning  ''pebbly,"  referring  to  the  stream  upon 
which  the  Cayuse  Indians  were  located  when  the  Canadians  first  came 
in  contact  with  them. 

CENTERVILLE,  Boise  County. — This  place  was  first  a  mining  camp 
defended  by  a  stockade  built  by  miners  to  defend  themselves  against 
the  Indians  and  was  called  the  "fort"  by  the  clique  which  slept  in  it 
at  night  and  sallied  forth  by  day  to  mine  in  the  gulches  near  by.  But 
as  the  first  settlers  and  stockholders  tried  to  "hog  up"  every  good 
claim  and  otherwise  appeared  intensely  selfish,  the  outside  world  got 
even  with  them  by  calling  the  place  "Hogum,"  which  honorable  epithet 
stuck  to  it  for  many  years  in  spite  of  all  efforts  to  throw  it  off.  It  was 
a  case  of  the  "survival  of  the  fittest."  But  time  that  wears  out  nearly 
all  things  at  length  effaced  this  hoggish  name,  and  it  is  now  known  as 
"Centerville."  because  it  is  midway  between  Idaho  City  and  Placer- 
ville. — BRISTOL,   Idaho  Nomenclature. 

CHIXOOK  JARGON. — This  was  an  Indian  trade  language  used  from 
Alaska  to  California  and  was  the  intertribal  as  well  as  the  inter- 
racial language  of  the  Pacific  Coast.  It  was  formed  by  adding 
grossly  corrupted  and  fancifully  used  French  and  English  words  to  the 
language  of  the  Chinookan  family,  and  as  used  was  a  very  much 
aspirated,  gutteralized,  sputtered  and  swallowed  form  of  expression ; 
however,  it  was  used  between  the  whites  themselves,  the  Indians  and 
the  whites,  and  the  Indians  themselves,  and  proved  of  great  service  to 
both  the  Indian  and  the  white  man. — HANDBOOK  of  American 
Indians. 

CHINOOK  WIND. — This  is  the  name  of  a  warm  southwest  wind  occurring 
in  late  winter  or  early  spring,  under  the  influence  of  which  the  snow 
is  melted  with  astonishing  rapidity  and  the  weather  soon  becomes 
balmy  and  springlike.  It  results  from  the  northward  passage  of  a 
cyclone  originating  in  the  Japan  current  and  its  effect  lasts  from  a  few- 
hours  to  several  days,  and  the  name  was  first  applied  by  the  Hudson 
Bay  Company  at  Astoria,  Oregon,  being  so  called  because  it  blew  from 
over  the  country  inhabited  by  the  Chinook  Indians. — HANDBOOK  of 
American  Indians. 


64  IDAHO    NOMENCLATURE 

UMOJfUNNlSH. — This  word  is  a  corruption  of  the  Nez  Perce's  name  ot 
themselves,  which  properly  interpreted  means  "The  People."  The  Sho- 
shonis  called  them  "Nim,"  meaning  "Indian,"  and  "apu,"  "people,"  or 
"Niniapu,"  "Indian  People."  The  Canadian  Trench  called  them  "Nez 
Perce"  (q.  c.) ,  a  perversion  of  the  Trench  name  for  "Hat  nose."  The 
Hudson  Pay  trappers  called  them  "Sahaptins"  and  "Shahaptans" 
(q.  v.) .  Lewis  and  Clark  called  the  north  fork  of  the  Clearwater  the 
"Chopunnish"  and  also  had  a  camp  of  that  name. 

C LARKS  TOKK  RIVER,  Bonner  County.— The  name  "Clark  River"  was 
given  to  the  Pitterroot  by  Captain  Lewis  on  September  0,  1805,  as 
Captain  Clark  was  the  first  white  man  who  had  visited  its  waters. 
The  stream  to  which  Clark's  name  is  attached  is  now  the  Clark's  Fork 
of  the  Columbia,  and  this  is  a  continuation  of  the  Bitterroot  River. 
This  stream  in  its  entirety  might  well  be  dubbed  "the  river  of  many 
names,"  for  Clark's  is  but  one  of  them.  The  stream  really  rises  just 
south  and  east  of  Butte,  Montana,  where  the  creek  is  known  as  Silver- 
bow.  Then  in  succession  follow  the  names  Deer  Lodge,  Hellgate,  Mis- 
soula and  Clarks  Fork.  The  river  is  a  beautiful  one,  and  Clark's  name 
should  apply  to  the  whole  stream,  or  at  least  to  that  part  of  it  from 
the  junction  of  the  Bitterroot  and  Hellgate  to  the  Columbia.  At  Pend 
Oreille  Lake  (q.  v. ).the  river  expands  into  a  very  large  lake,  one  of  the 
finest  in  the  West,  and  surrounded  by  high,  timbered  mountains. — 
AYHEELER,  Trail  of  Lewis  and  Clark. 

CLEARWATER  RIVER,  Clearwater  County.— This  stream  is  named  for 
its  chief  characteristic,  that  of  being  brilliantly  clear  and  trans- 
parent, which  name  was  first  applied  by  the  Nez  Perce  Indians,  the 
whites  using  the  translated  word  "Clearwater."  It  has  three  prin- 
cipal branches,  the  North,  Middle  and  South  forks.  It  was  formerly 
called  by  its  Nez  Perce  Indian  name,  "Koos-koos-kia"    (q.  v. ). 

COEUR  D'ALENE  INDIANS.— This  is  a  tribe  of  the  Salish  family  {q.  v.), 
which  inhabited  the  country  surrounding  and  adjoining  the  lake  which 
bears  their  name.  They  call  themselves  "Skitswish,"  which  they  claim 
means  "Camas  People."  Lewis  and  Clark  called  them  "Skeetsomish." 
The  name  is  of  French  origin  and  means  "Awl-Heart."  One  tradition 
of  their  name  is  that  these  Indians  were  so  sharp  at  bargaining  the  fur 
traders  named  them  "Awl-hearts,"  or  "Pointed-Hearts,"  while  another 
is  that  among  the  first  traders  was  a  Canadian  of  so  close  and  nig- 
gardly a  disposition  that  the  Indians  applied  an  epithet  to  him  which 
the  interpreter  translated  "Coeur  d'Alenes,"  and  the  name  became 
fixed  upon  the  Indians.  They  are  of  the  Catholic  faith. — ROSS,  Oregon 
Settlers. 

COEUR  D'ALENE  INDIAN  RESERVATION,  Kootenai  County.— These 
Indians  claimed  approximately  all  the  lands  lying  in  Shoshone  and 
Kootenai  counties,  Idaho,  and  Whitman,  Spokane,  Lincoln  and  Adams 
counties,  Washington.  No  treaty  was  ever  concluded  with  these 
Indians  for  the  cession  of  their  title.  A  reserve  was  set  apart  for 
them  in  1867,  which  they  refused  to  accept.     An  agreement  was  made 


IDAHO    NOMENCLATURE  bo 

with  them  in  1873,  but  Congress  failed  to  approve  it.  By  executive 
order,  in  1873,  President  Grant  set  apart  the  following  reserve:  Begin- 
ning at  a  point  on  the  top  of  the  dividing  ridge  between  Pine  and 
Latah  or  Hangman's  Creek,  directly  south  of  a  point  on  said  last 
mentioned  creek  six  miles  above  the  point  where  the  trail  from  Lewis- 
ton  to  Spokane  bridge  crosses  said  creek;  thence  in  a  northeasterly 
direction  in  a  direct  line  to  the  Coeur  d'Alene  Mission  on  Coeur  d'Alene 
River,  but  not  to  include  the  lands  of  said  mission;  thence  in  a  west- 
erly direction  in  a  direct  line  to  the  point  where  the  Spokane  River 
heads  in  or  leaves  the  Coeur  d'Alene  lakes;  thence  down  the  center  of 
the  channel  of  said  Spokane  River  to  the  dividing  line  between  Wash- 
ington and  Idaho;  thence  south  along  said  dividing  line  to  the  top  of 
the  dividing  ridge  between  Pine  and  Latah  or  Hangman's  creeks ;  thence 
along  the  top  of  said  ridge  to  the  place  of  beginning.  It  was  set  apart 
for  the  Coeur  d'Alenes  and  southern  Spokanes  and  other  fragmentary 
bands.  The  United  States  assumed  that  when  they  accepted  this 
reserve  the  Indians  had  relinquished  their  title  to  the  country  they 
claimed,  but  in  order  to  do  this  a  formal  extinguishment  of  their  title 
was  made  by  treaty  of  1891.  At  other  times  small  cessions  were  made 
of  their  reserve  for  railroad,  townsite  and  settlement  purposes,  and  in 
1906  their  reservation,  by  treaty,  was  allotted  to  the  Indians  in  sever- 
alty of  160  acres  to  each  man,  woman  and  child,  and  the  surplus,  except 
lands  for  school  and  agency  purposes,  was  sold  for  their  benefit. — 
Indian  Land  Cessions. 

COEUR  D'ALENE  LAKE  AND  RIVER,  Kootenai  County.— This  lake  was 
named  from  the  tribe  of  Indians  that  inhabited  its  shores  and  is  the 
source  of  the  Spokane  River.  Father  De  Smet,  in  1842,  called  the 
southern  stream  flowing  into  this  lake  St.  Joseph  River  and  the 
northern  stream  St.  Ignatius,  which  was  changed  to  Coeur  d'Alene 
River,  thru  whose  valley  runs  the  Northern  Pacific  Railroad.  The 
geologic  feature  of  this  lake  is  that  of  a  drowned  valley  which  is 
backed  up  and  held  on  the  west  by  gravel  dams. 

COLLINS  CREEK,  Clearwater  County.— This  is  the  name  given  by  Captain 
Clark  to  what  is  now  called  Lolo  Creek  ( q.  v. ) ,  and  was  named  for 
Private  John  Collins,  a  member  of  the  Lewis  and  Clark  party. 

COLTER  CREEK,  Nez  Perce  County— This  is  the  name  given  by  Captains 
Lewis  and  Clark  to  what  is  now  called  Potlatch  Creek  (q.  v.),  and  was 
named  for  Private  John  Colter,  a  member  of  the  Lewis  and  Clark 
party  and  the  person  who  later,  made  the  famous  Colter  run  in  Mon- 
tana. 

COLTKILLED  CREEK,  Selway  County.— This  is  the  name  given  by  Captain 
Clark  on  September  14,  1805,  to  what  is  now  called  White  Sand  Creek, 
which  flows  into  the  Lochsa  Fork  of  the  Clearwater.  Here  it  was  that 
the  Lewis  and  Clark  party  exhausted  their  animal  food  and  killed  a 
colt  for  meat. 

COLUMBIA  RIVER  BASIN.— While  no  part  of  the  Columbia  River  is  in 
Idaho,  yet  all  drainage  of  the  State,  except  Bear  River,  Hows  into  it 


66  IDAHO    NOMENCLATURE 

and  nearly  all  Idaho  lies  within  its  basin.  This  stream  was  named  for 
the  ship,  Columbia  Rediviva,  oi  which  Captain  Hubert  Cray  was  in 
command  when  the  river  was  discovered,  in  1792.  This  vessel  was  the 
lirst  American  ship  to  circumnavigate  the  globe  during  the  years 
1*87-90,  and  the  word  Rediviva  means  "to  live  again."  A  suspected 
"River  of  the  \\  est"  had  been  imagined  for  years  and  Spanish  and 
English  explorers  had  searched  for  it  persistently,  but  the  Americans 
were  the  lirst  to  identity  its  geographical  position,  which  event  gave 
them  their  claim  to  Northwest  Territory. 

COMMEARP,  Lewis  County. — This  is  the  name  which  Captains  Lewis  and 
Clark  gave  to  what  is  now  called  Lawyer's  Canyon  Creek  (q.v.)  on 
May  10,  1806.  \\  hat  the  name  means  is  uncertain,  but  it  is  probable 
that  it  is  a  "pretty  valley,"  which  expresses  but  faintly  the  scenic 
beauty  at  this  point. —  WHEELER,  Trail  of  Lewis  and  Clark. 

COUNCIL,  Adams  County. — This  town  is  built  near  a  butte  in  the  center 
of  a  valley  in  which  Indians  gathered  for  council.  The  valley  was 
near  the  line  dividing  the  territory  of  the  Shahaptans  (q.v.)  and  the 
Shoshonis  (q.v.).  Any  matter  affecting  the  Indian's  welfare  had  to 
be  talked  over  in  council.  No  important  undertaking  was  entered 
upon  without  deliberation  in  a  solemn  council  at  which  the  pipe  was 
smoked.  Whatever  was  agreed  to  thereat  was  held  most  sacred. 
Propositions  of  peace  and  treaty  terms  were  considered,  and  when 
agreed  to  were  held  inviolate.  History  proves  that  of  the  hundreds 
of  treaties  made  by  the  United  States  with  the  Indian  tribes,  the  Gov- 
ernment was  almost  invariably  the  first. to  break  them.  The  Indian 
word  for  council  means  "talk  circle,"  as  it  was  a  circle  formed  by 
Indians  seated  upon  the  ground.  The  pipe  was  passed  from  left  to 
right  and  the  stem  pointed  to  the  force  of  nature  which  it  wras 
desired  to  propitiate;  if  to  the  earth,  that  it  may  hold  them  good  and 
strong;  if  to  the  four  winds,  that  no  harshness  may  blow  against 
them  as  troubles  or  distress;  if  to  the  sun,  that  they  may  have  light 
to  see  their  way  clearly  and  to  guide  them,  etc.,  etc. — HAXDBOOK  of 
A  merican  Indians. 

COUNTIES  AND  COUNTY  SEATS. 

ADA. — Named  for  Ada  Riggs,  the  oldest  daughter  of  Hon.  H.  C.  Riggs, 
and  who  was  the  first  white  child  born  in  Boise  City,  in  1863.  The 
county  seat  is  Boise,  named  for  the  Boise  River  (q.v.). 

ADAMS. — Named  for  John  Adams,  who  was  President  of  the  United  States 
from  1797-1801,  being  second  to  General  Washington,  and  this  county 
was  created  from  Washington  County.  The  county  seat  is  Council 
(q.v.). 

BANNOCK. — Named  for  the  Bannack  Indians  (q.v.),  but  the  Scotch  word 
is  used.  The  county  seat  is  Pocatello,  named  for  Chief  Pokatello 
(q.v.). 

BEAR  LAKE. — Named  for  Bear  Lake  (q.v.),  which  is  within  its  borders. 
The  county  seat  is  Paris,  named  by  recent  Mormon  converts  from 
France  who  settled  there  in  1863. 


IDAHO    NOMENCLATURE  67 

BENEWAH. — Named  for  an  old  chief  of  the  Coeur  d'Alene  Indians  who  was 
an  historic  and  notorious  individual  of  that  locality.  The  county  seat 
is  St.  Maries,  named  by  Father  De  Smet  in  1842. 

BINGHAM. — Named  by  Governor  Bunn  for  his  friend  Congressman  Henry 
H.  Bingham  of  Philadelphia,  Pa.  The  county  seat  is  Blackfoot,  named 
for  the  Blackfoot   ( q.  v. )    Indians. 

BLAINE. — Named  for  Hon.  James  G.  Blaine,  the  American  statesman. 
The  county  seat  is  Hailey,  named  for  Hon.  John  Hailey   (q.  v.). 

BOISE. — Named  for  the  Boise  River  ( q.  v. ) .  The  county  seat  is  Idaho 
City   (q.v.) . 

BONNER. — Named  for  Bonners  Ferry  (q.v.).  The  county  seat  is  Sand- 
point,  named  for  a  large  sand  bar  that  extends  into  Pend  Oreille  Lake 
at  this  place. 

BONNEVILLE. — Named  for  Captain  Bonneville  [q.v.).  The  county  seat 
is  Idaho  Falls,  named  for  some  falls  in  Snake  River  near  by.  This  place 
was  originally  called  Eagle  Rock   (q.v.). 

BOUNDARY. — Named  from  the  fact  that  it  joins  the  Canadian  boundary 
(q.v.) .     The  county  seat  is  Bonners  Ferry    ( q.  v. ) . 

BUTTE. — Named  for  the  Buttes  (q.  v.).  The  county  seat  is  Arco,  named 
by  the  first  settlers  for  a  small  town  in  Tyrol,  Austria. 

CAMAS. — Named  for  Big  Camas  Prairie  (q.v.).  The  county  seat  is  Fair- 
field, named  by  reclamation  settlers  as  descriptive  of  the  country. 

CANYON. — Named  for  the  canyon  on  the  Boise  River  near  Caldwell.  The 
county   seat    is    Caldwell,   named   for    Senator   Alexander    Caldwell    of 

Kansas. 

>  a 

CASSIA. — Named  for  Cassia  Creek,  which  was  so  called  by  the  Hudson 
Bay  trappers,  who  found  some  cassia  plant  on  the  stream.  The 
county  seat  is  Albion,  named  by  Mr.  Robinson,  one  of  the  promoters 
of  the  town,  which  was  founded  in  1875. 

CLEARWATER.— Named  for  the  Clearwater  River  (q.v.).  The  county 
seat  is  Orofino    (q.  v.). 

CUSTER. — Named  for  Gen.  George  A.  Custer,  who  was  killed  at  the 
battle  of  Little  Bighorn  on  June  25,  1870.  The  county  seat  is 
Challis,  named  for  A.  P.  Challis,  who,  in  1878,  founded  the  town. 

ELMORE. — Named  for  the  Ida  Elmore,  a  famous  quartz  mine,  discovered 
in   1803.     The  county  seat   is  Mountain   Home    (q.v.). 

FRAXKLINA-Named  from  the  town  of  Franklin.  The  county  seat  is 
Franklin,  named  for  Mr.  Franklin,  the  leader  of  the  thirteen  Mormon 
families  that  settled  the  place  in  18G0. 

FREMONT. — Named  for  General  John  C.  Fremont,  who  traversed  Idaho  in 
1843.  The  county  seat  is  St.  Anthony,  named  by  C.  H.  Moon,  who 
in  1887  built  a  bridge  and  store  there  and  called  it  thus  because  of 
its  fancied  resemblance  to  St.  Anthony  Falls,  Minnesota. 

GEM. — Named  for  "Gem  of  the  Mountains."  The  county  seat  is  Emmet t, 
named  for  Emmett  Cabal  an.  the  first  white  boy  born  there  and  who 
was  the  oldest  son  of  T.  D.  Cahalan,  an  early  settler  and  attorney. 


fk 


68  IDAHO    NOMENCLATURE 

GOODING. — Named  for  Governor  Frank  R.  Gooding.     The  county  seat  is 

Gooding,  named  for  the  same  party. 
IDAHO. — Named  for  a  steamboat  that  plied  the  Columbia  River  from  and 

after   1800.     The  county  seat  is  Grangeville,  named  by  L.   P.   Brown, 

the  founder  of  the  town,  for  the  grange  organization. 
JEFFERSON. — Named  for  President  Jefferson.     The  county  seat  is  Rigby, 

named  for  William  F.  Rigby,  a  local  authority  of  the  Mormon  Church 

and  one  of  the  founders  of  the  town. 
KOOTENAI. — Named    for    Kutenai    Indians    (q.  v. ).      The    county   seat   is 

Coeur   d'Alene,   named   for  the   Coeur   dAlene   Indians    {q.  v.). 
LATAH. — Named    for    the    Nez    Perce    Indian    word    Latah     (q.v.).     The 

county  seat  is  Moscow,  so  named  when  the  postoffice  was  moved,  during 

the  '70s,  one  mile  west  of  the  old  site  by  a  Russian  by  the  name  of 

Hogg. 
LEMHI. — Named    for    Fort   Lemhi    {q.v.) .      The    county    seat   is    Salmon, 

named  for  the  Salmon  River    {q.v.) . 
LEWIS. — Named    for    Capt.    Meriwether    Lewis    of    the    Lewis    and    Clark 

expedition,  1804-06.     The  county  seat  is  Nez  Perce,  named  for  the  Nez 

Perce  Indians   {q.v.). 
LINCOLN. — Named  for  President  Lincoln.     The  county  seat  is  Shoshone, 

named  for  the  Shoshoni  Indians   ( q.  v.) . 
MADISON. — Named  for  President  Madison.     The  county  seat  is  Rexburg, 

named   for   Thomas   Ricks,   a   local   authority   of   the  Mormon    Church, 

and  is  a  corruption  of  Ricksburg. 
MINIDOKA. — This   is  a   Shoshoni  word  meaning  "broad   expanse,"   and   is 

applied   to  this   place   because   it   is   near   the   broadest   portion   of   the 

Snake  River  plains    ( q.  v. ) .     The  count}'  seat  is  Rupert,  named  for  a 

reclamation  expert. 
NEZ   PERCE. — Named   for   the   Nez  Perce   Indians    {q.   v.).     The   county 

seat   is    Lewiston,   named   for    Capt.    Meriwether    Lewis    of   the    Lewis 

and  Clark  expedition,  1804-6. 
ONEIDA. — Named  for  Oneida,  New  York,  from  which  place  most  of  the 

early   settlers   had   come.      The   county   seat   is   Malad,   named    for    the 

Malade  River    (</.  v.). 
OWYHEE. — Named   for   the   Owyhee   River    {q.   v.).      The   county   seat   is 

Silver  City,  named,   in    1863,  by  the  prospectors  who  discovered   rich 

silver  float  near  there. 
PAYETTE.— Named   for  the   Payette   River    {q.   v.).     The   county   seat   is 

Payette,  named  for  the  same. 
POWER. — At  American  Falls  the  Snake  River  is  one  thousand  feet  wide 

and  drops   forty-two  feet  over  a  series  of  beautiful  cascades,  making 

it  possible  to  develop  several  thousand  horsepower.     This   county  in- 
cludes this  power  site,  and  from  it  derives  its  name.     The  county  seat 

is  American  Falls    {q.  v.). 
SELWAY. — This    is    a    Nez    Perce    Indian    word    meaning   the    "stream   of 

easy   canoeing."      The   county   seat    is   Kooskia,   an   adaptation   of   two 

syllables  taken  from  the  word  Koos-koos-kia    ( q.  v. ) . 


IDAHO    NOMENCLATURE  69 

SHOSHONE. — Named  for  the  Shoshoni  Indians  (g.  v.).  The  county  seat 
is  Wallace,  named  for  Col.  W.  R.  Wallace,  the  locator  of  the  townsite. 

TETON. — Named  for  the  Teton  peaks  {q.  v.).  The  county  seat  is  Driggs, 
named,  in  1888,  for  A.  P.  Driggs,  a  local  authority  of  the  Mormon 
church. 

TWIN  FALLS.— Named  for  the  Little  or  Twin  Falls  of  the  Snake  River. 
The  countv  seat  is  Twin  Falls,  named  for  the  same. 

VALLEY. — Named  for  Long  Valley,  which  lies  within  its  borders.  The 
county  seat  is  Cascade,  named  for  the  Cascade  Falls  on  the  Payette 
River  which  are  near  by. 

WASHINGTON.— Named  for  the  "Father  of  our  Country."  The  countv 
seat  is  Weiser,  named  for  the  Weiser  River   {q.  v.). 

CRAIG,  Lewis  County. — Named  for  William  Craig  who  was  in  that  sec- 
tion of  country  as  early  as  1829,  where  he  married  a  Nez  Perce 
Indian  woman  and  was  afterwards  allowed  one  section  of  land  upon 
the  Nez  Perce  reservation  (q.  v.).  He  belonged  to  that  class  of  per- 
sons known  as  "mountain  men,"  who  pursued  hazardous  occupations 
in  the  wilds  of  the  mountains,  free  and  independent  of  every  one, 
where  they  developed  that  hardy  and  self-reliant  spirit  that  enabled 
them  to  accomplish  things  by  their  enthusiasm.  He  was  the  comrade, 
in  the  mountains,  of  Kit  Carson,  Joseph  L.  Meek,  Robert  Newell, 
Courtney  Walker,  all  mountain  men,  and  hosts  of  other  brave  men 
whose  names  are  linked  with*  the  history  of  the  country. — BAXCROFT, 
History  of  Washington,  Idaho  and  Montana. 

DESMET,  Benewah  County. — This  place  was  named  for  Father  De  Smet, 
a  Belgian  Jesuit,  who  came  into  Idaho  as  a  Catholic  missionary  among 
the  Indians,  in  1842,  and  was  instrumental  in  founding  a  mission, 
under  the  patronage  of  Saint  Joseph,  on  the  St.  Joe  River,  and  also 
the  Coeur  d'Alene  mission,  now  known  as  Caltaldo,  where,  in  1853,  the 
first  Catholic  church  in  Idaho  was  founded.  Father  De  Smet's  labors 
were  with  the  Flatheads,  Coeur  d'Alenes,  Pend  Oreilles  and  Kutenais. — 
DE  SMET,  Letters  and  Sketches. 

DEVIL'S  SCUTTLE  HOLE,  Twin  Falls  Comity.— This  was  the  name  given 
to  the  Snake  River  gorge  just  above  the  Shoshone  Falls  (q.  v.)  by  the 
Hunt-Astoria  party  (q.  v.),  in  1811,  after  the  loss  of  several  boats 
at  the  place. — IRVING,  Astoria. 

DIGGER  INDIANS.— These  were  the  degenerate  offshoots  of  the  Pahutes, 
just  as  Tukuarikas  (q.  v.)  were  the  offshoots  of  the  Shoshonis  (q.  v.). 
Their  language  was  a  sort  of  Shoshoni  "patios,"  but  they  were  held  in 
contempt  by  both  Bannacks  and  Shoshonis.  They  were  called  "Shosh- 
o-cos,"  a  Shoshoni  word  meaning  "on  foot,"  as  they  had  no  horses. 
They  were  sometimes  called  "To-sah-weet"  meaning  "white  knives," 
which  alluded  to  their  primitive  '"bone  knives."  They  were  only  a 
few  degrees  above  the  brutes,  and  their  diet  consisted  of  crickets, 
grasshoppers,  ant-eggs,  ground  squirrels  and  various  kind  of  roots. 
They  lived  in  miserable  huts  of  sagebrush  situated  in  the  desert 
plains  or  among  barren  mountains  and  in  the  gloomiest  and  most 
desolate  places  imaginable. — STUART,  Montana   As  It   Is. 


70  IDAHO    NOMENCLATURE 

DUBOIS,  Fremont  County. — Named  for  Hon.  Fred  T.  Dubois  who  was 
born  in  Crawford  County,  Illinois,  May  29,  1851;  graduated  from 
Yale,  1872;  moved  to  Idaho  and  entered  business,  1880;  United  States 
marshal  of  Idaho,  1882-6;  delegate  from  Idaho  to  Fiftieth  and 
Fifty-first  Congresses;  United  States  senator  of  Idaho,  1891-7,  1901-7. — 
Co ))(/)■< ssionol    Directory. 

DUCK  VALUE V   INDIAN   RESERVATION,   Owyhee   County.— The   Duck 
Valley  lies  between  the  forks  of  the  Owyhee  River,  and  was  so  called 
by  reason  of  so  many  duck  therein,  by  members  of  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tain   Fur    Company    led    by    Milton    Sublette,    in    1832.      The    western 
Shoshonis     (q.    v.)     claimed    approximately    all    Idaho    south    of    the 
Salmon  River   (q.  v.)   and  west  of  113°  west  longitude;  Utah,  west  of 
Salt  Lake  and  north  of  41°;   Nevada,  north  of  37°;    parts  of  Modoc, 
Siskiyou   and   Lassen   counties,    California ;    and   Oregon,   south   of   the 
Blue  Mountains  and  east  of  119°.     The  United  States  recognized  their 
claim   to  this  territory   in   the  treaty   of   18G3,  made  at   Ruby  Valley, 
Nevada,    between    Gen.    P.    E.    Conner    and    Gov.    J.    D.    Doty    for    the 
government,  and  the  chiefs,  warriors  and  principal   men   of  the  tribe, 
in  which  their  boundaries  were  described  as  follows:    On  the  north  by 
Wong-goga-da    Mountains     (a    Shoshoni    word    meaning    "heavily    tim- 
bered   mountains"    and    was    applied    to    the    Blue    and    Salmon    River 
Mountains    {q.  v.)   and  Shoshonee  River  Valley   (Snake  River  Valley)  ; 
on  the  west  by  Su-non-to-yah  Mountains    (a   Shoshoni  word  meaning 
"quaking    asp    mountain)     or    Smith    Creek    Mountains     (named    for 
Jedediah    Smith    in    1828,    now    called    Siskiyou    Mountains)  ;    on    the 
south    by    Wico-bah     (a    Shoshoni    word    meaning    a    "barren    country 
without    water,"    referring    to    southern    Nevada)     and    the    Colorado 
Desert  (southern  Nevada  named  from  the  Colorado  River)  ;  on  the  east 
by  Po-ho-no-be  Valley    (a  Shoshoni  word  meaning  "sagebrush  valley" 
in  eastern  Nevada)  or  Steptoe  Valley   (a  valley  in  White  Pine  County. 
Nevada,  named  for  Col.  E.  J.  Steptoe  in  1851),  and  Great  Salt  Lake 
Valley.    A  great  many  Bannack  Indians  ( q.  v. )  ranged  in  large  measure 
and  with  equal  freedom  over  some  of  this  vast  extent  of  territory,  but 
they    were    eventually    placed    on    the    Fort    Hall    Indian    Reservation 
(q.   v.).     No  formal   purchase  of  the  territorial   claim  of  these  tribes 
or   bands    was    made,    but   the   United    States    took    possession    of   the 
same,  assuming  the  right  of  satisfying  their  claims  by  assigning  them 
such    reservations    as   might   seem   essential   for   their    occupancy,    and 
supplying  them  in  such  degree  as  might  seem  proper  with  necessaries 
of    life.      In    1872,    President    Grant    set    apart    the    Malheur    Indian 
Reservation  in  Oregon  for  the  Pahute  Indians,  upon  which  was  also 
placed   many   of   the   western    Shoshonis.      In    1877,    President   Hayes, 
by  executive  order,  set  aside  the  Duck  Valley  Indian  Reservation  for 
the  western  Shoshonis  as  follows :    Commencing  at  the  one  hundredth 
mile  post  of  the  survey  of  the  north  boundary  of  Nevada;   thence  due 
north  to  the  intersection  of  the  north  boundary  of  township   16  south 
of  Boise  base   line   in   Idaho;    thence   due   west  to  a   point  due  north 
of  the  one   hundred   and   twentieth   mile   post   of   said   survey   of   the 


IDAHO    NOMENCLATURE  71 

north  boundary  of  Nevada ;  thence  due  south  to  the  ninth  standard 
parallel  north  of  the  Mount  Diablo  base  line  in  Nevada;  thence  due 
east  to  a  point  due  south  of  the  place  of  beginning-;  thence  north  to 
the  place  of  beginning.  In  1880,  all  unclaimed  lands  in  township  15 
south,  ranges  1,  2  and  3  east  of  the  Boise  meridian,  Idaho,  were  added 
to  the  reserve. — KAPPLER,  Indian  Affairs. 

EAGLE  ROCK,  Bonneville  County.— This  place  is  now  called  Idaho  Falls, 
the  name  having  been  changed  in  1890.  Snake  River  here  falls  over 
the  edge  of  a  lava  flow,  and  the  incessant  wear  of  the  running  water 
has  cut  the  falls  back  into  the  lava  sheet  fully  half  a  mile,  and  they 
are  now  at  the  head  of  a  narrow  canyon,  the  walls  of  which  are  at 
one  point  barely  fifty  feet  apart.  In  1804,  a  ferry  was  established 
near  this  place  to  accommodate  the  miners  that  were  rushing  to  the 
Montana  placer  fields,  and  in  1800  J.  M.  Taylor  built  a  toll  bridge 
known  as  "Taylor's  bridge."  The  bridge  paid  so  well  that  a  store 
and  town  were  soon  started  by  Robert  Anderson.  Just  above  the 
bridge,  in  the  middle  of  the  stream,  with  the  waters  swirling  on  either 
side  as  they  rushed  through  the  narrow  channel,  was  a  massive  rock. 
Here,  safe  from  harm  and  molestation,  an  American  eagle  for  many 
years  built  its  nest  and  reared  its  young.  This  suggested  a  name, 
and  the  little  community  was  christened  "Eagle  Rock." — GUIDE- 
BOOK, Overland  Route. 
i*s     - — 

ELK    CITY,    Idaho   .County. — Prospectors    following    the    Nez    Perce    trail 

(q.  v.)  in  quest  of  gold  discovered  placer,  in  1801,  in  a  small  moun- 
tain valley  about  seven  miles  in  length  by  a  half  mile  in  width  which, 
owing  to  the  great  number  of  elk  abounding  therein,  was  called 
Elk  Valley.  Elk  City  was  located  at  the  lower  end  of  this  valley. 
On  every  side,  in  this  locality,  rose  ledges  of  pale  red  or  rose  quartz. 
Between  the  mountains  were  intervals  of  beautiful  grassy  prairies;  on 
the  mountains  heavy  pine  forests,  a  very  different  country  from  the 
California  miner's  preconceived  ideas  of  a  gold  country. — BAyCROET, 
History  of  Washington,  Idaho  and  Montana. 

FISH  CREEK,  Lemhi  County.— This  is  the  name  which  Captains  Lewi* 
and  Clark  gave  to  the  north  fork  of  the  Salmon  River  on  September 
1,  1805,  which  stream  they  followed  to  its  source  where  they  crossed 
the  divide  of  the  Bitterroot  Mountains  into  Bitterroot  Valley  near 
Ross'  hole. 

FISHING  FALLS,  Twin  Falls  County.— They  are  now  called  Salmon  Fall* 
and  are  situated  in  Snake  River  (q.  v.)  six  miles  below  the  mouth 
of  Salmon  Falls  River.  They  consist  of  a  series  of  cataracts  with 
sharply  inclined  planes,  forming  a  barrier  to  the  ascent  of  the  salmon 
fish  {q.  v.),  and  thus  a  fishing  resort  is  created  where  Indians  in 
great  numbers  used  to  collect  to  catch  the  fish. — PALMER,  Journal 
of  Travels. 

FLORENCE,  Idaho  County. — Next  came  the  discoveries  of  the  Salmon 
River,  since  known  as  the  Florence  Mines.  This  last  discovery  place  1 
the   capsheaf  on   the   series   of   rich   discoveries    made   during   the   year 


72  IDAHO    NOMENCLATURE 

of  1861.     Florence  Avas  named  after  a  stepdaughter  of  Furber,  formerly 
of  Siskiyou  County,  California. — GOULDER,  Reminiscences. 

FORTS. — The  first  settlements  made  by  white  people  in  the  western  parts 
of  the  United  States  were  by  men  who  followed  the  fur  trading  busi- 
ness. At  every  point,  where  the  fur  trade  was  carried  on,  the  white 
people  erected  forts  for  their  own  safety  and  protection,  this  being 
the  reason  for  the  many  forts  established  thruout  the  West.  They 
were  usually  built  at  the  most  central  points  and  at  places  which  were 
surrounded  with  plenty  of  grass,  game,  fuel,  water  and  in  proximity 
to  all  other  natural  resources  of  the  region.  After  the  Louisiana 
purchase,  in  1803,  and  the  adjustment  of  the  northwest  boundary,  in 
1846,  all  of  these  forts  came  into  the  possession,  of  the  United  States 
and  were,  at  times,  garrisoned  with  soldiers  by  the  Government,  making 
military  posts  of  them. 

FORT  BOISE,  Canyon  County.— In  1834,  Thomas  McKay  erected  a  log 
fort  for  the  Hudson  Bay  Company  on  the  Boise  River  eight  miles 
above  its  mouth  to  compete  with  the  American  trading  post  at  Fort 
Hall  (q.  v.).  But  in  1837  it  was  changed,  by  Francis  Payette,  and 
placed  on  the  east  side  of  Snake  River,  one  mile  below  the  mouth  of 
Boise  River.  The  Avails  of  the  latter  fort  Avere  built  of  mud,  the  fort 
being  simply  a  trading  post.  The  remarkably  high  water  of  the  Snake 
River  in  1853  Avashed  the  greater  part  of  it  away  and  it  Avas  finally 
abandoned  in  1855.  In  1863,  Boise  barracks  Avas  erected  as  a  military 
post  by  the  Government  at  Boise  City,  which  is  sometimes  called, 
although  erroneously,  "Fort  Boise." — FARNHAM,  Travels. 

FORT  HALL,  Bingham  County.— The  Columbia  Fishing  and  Trading 
Company  Avas  formed  in  1834,  by  seAeral  individuals  in  NeAV  York  and 
Boston.  Nathaniel  Wyeth,  haA'ing  an  interest  in  the  enterprise,  col- 
lected a  party  of  men  to  cross  the  continent  to  the  Pacific,  AA"ith  the 
purpose  chiefly  of  establishing  trading  posts  beyond  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains and  on  the  coast.  The  site  selected  for  the  first  fort  Avas  on 
the  east  bank  of  the  Snake  River,  nine  miles  above  the  mouth  of  the 
Portneuf  RiA7er  (q.  v.).  It  Avas  named  for  Henry  Hall,  senior  mem- 
ber of  the  firm  furnishing  Wyeth  financial  backing.  Competition  in 
trade  soon  forced  Wyeth  to  sell  this  fort,  Avhich  he  did  in  1836,  to  the 
Hudson  Bay  Company.  It  Avas  abandoned  by  the  latter  company  in 
1856,  since  Avhich  time  the  erosive  poAver  of  the  Snake  River  has  Avashed 
it  aAvay.  In  1870,  the  Government  erected  a  post  on  Lincoln  Creek, 
a  tributary  of  the  Blackfoot  River,  garrisoned  it  with  soldiers,  and 
called  it  Fort  Hall ;  hoAvever,  it  Avas  forty  miles  northeast  of  the  old 
fort.  This  latter  post  is  also  entirely  abandoned.  A  postoffice  by  this 
name  is  on  Ross  Creek,  about  midway  betAveen  the  two  former  forts. — 
TOWNSEND,  Narrative. 

FORT  HALL  INDIAN  RESERVATION,  Bingham  and  Bannock  Counties.— 
The  eastern  Shoshonis  claimed  approximately  all  Idaho  east  of  113°; 
Wyoming,  Avest  of  the  Wind  River  Mountains  and  North  Platte  RiAer; 
Colorado,  north  of  Yampa  RiA'er;  and  Utah,  north  of  the  Uinta  Moun- 


IDAHO    NOMENCLATURE  73 

tains  and  east  of  Salt  Lake.  The  United  States  recognized  their  claim 
to  this  territory  in  the  treaty  of  1863,  made  at  Fort  Bridger,  Utah, 
between  Gen.  P.  E.  Connor  and  G«v.  J.  D.  Dotv  for  the  Government 
and  tne  chiefs,  warriors  and  principal  men  for  the  tribe,  in  which  their 
boundaries  were  defined  as  follows:  On  the  north  by  the  mountains 
on  the  north  side  of  Shoshonee  or  Snake  River;  on  the  east  by  the 
Wind  River  Mountains,  Pee-na-pah  River  (a  Shoshoni  word  meaning 
"Sweetwater"),  the  north  fork  of  Platte  or  Koo-chin-agah  (a  Shoshoni 
word  meaning  "Buffalo  River"  which  they  applied  to  the  Platte  River), 
and  the  North  Park,  or  Buffalo  House;  and  on  the  south  by  Yampah 
River  and  the  Uinta  Mountains ;  and  on  the  west  by  Salt  Lake.  In 
1868,  another  treaty  was  made  with  the  eastern  Shoshonis  in  which 
the  Wind  River  Indian  Reservation,  Wyoming,  was  set  apart  for  them 
and  it  was  agreed  that  whenever  the  Bannacks  (q.  v.)  desired  a  reserva- 
tion to  be  set  apart  for  their  use,  the  President  would  do  so  by  execu- 
tive order.  In  1869,  President  Grant,  by  executive  order,  set  aside  the 
Fort  Hall  Indian  Reservation  for  the  Bannacks,  Shoshonis  and  other 
Indians  of  southern  Idaho.  Its  boundaries  were  as  follows:  Com- 
mencing on  the  south  bank  of  Snake  River  at  the  junction  of  the 
Portneuf  River  with  Snake  River;  thence  south  25  miles  to  the 
summit  of  the  mountains  dividing  the  waters  of  Bear  River  from  those 
of  Snake  River;  thence  easterly  along  the  summit  of  said  range  of 
mountains  70  miles  to  a  point  where  Sublette  Road  {q.  v.)  crosses  said 
divide ;  thence  north  about  50  miles  to  Blackfoot  River  ( q.  v. )  ;  thence 
down  said  stream  to  its  junction  with  Snake  River;  thence  down  Snake 
River  to  the  place  of  beginning,  embracing  about  1,800,000  acres  and 
including  Fort  Hall  in  its  limits.  In  1880,  part  of  this  reservation 
was  set  aside  for  the  use  of  the  Lemhis  (q.  v.).  In  1881,  a  right  of 
way  of  one  hundred  feet  in  width,  with  sufficient  ground  for  depot  and 
station,  consisting  in  the  aggregate  of  772  acres,  was  ceded  to  the 
Utah  Northern  Railroad  (q.  v.),  and  in  1888,  1,840  acres  were  re- 
linquished to  the  United  States  out  of  township  6  south  of  range  34 
east  of  the  Boise  meridian.  In  1898,  the  lands  of  this  reservation  were 
allotted  in  severalty  of  160  acres  each  of  farming  and  grazing  lands 
to  the  head  of  each  family,  and  80  acres  each  of  farming  and  grazing 
lands  to  others  not  the  head  of  families  and  the  tribe  was  paid  by  the 
United  States  $600,000  for  the  surplus. — Indian  Land  Cessions. 
FORT  HENRY,  Fremont  Countv.— This  was  the  first  American  trading 
post  erected  in  the  Columbia  River  basin,  and  consisted  of  a  log 
cabin  built  on  the  north  fork  of  Snake  River  in  the  fall  of  1810  by 
Andrew  Henry  for  the  Missouri  Fur  Company  as  a  place  to  carry  on 
a  traffic  with  the  Indians.  From  this  incident  the  stream  is  sometimes 
called  Henry's  Fork  of  the  Snake  River.  The  fort  was  isolated  and 
the  trappers  were  unable  to  obtain  supplies,  and  the  winter  proved 
quite  severe,  causing  the  party  to  abandon  this  post  in  1811.  It 
was  situated  where  the  town  of  Egin  now  stands. — CHITTEXDEX. 
American  Fur  Trade. 


74  IDAHO    NOMENCLATURE 

FORT  LAPWAI,  Nez  Perce  County.— The  irritability  of  the  Indians  becom- 
ing more  manifest,  General  Alvord  determined  upon  the  establishment 
of  a  permanent  post  at  Lapwai,  in  the  autumn  of  1862.  It  was  built 
under  the  superintendence  of  D.  W.  Porter  of  the  First  Oregon  Cavalry 
and  was  situated  upon  the  right  bank  of  Lapwai  Creek,  three  miles 
from  its  confluence  with  the  Clearwater.  The  reservation  was  one 
mile  square,  but  is  now  abandoned.  It  was  named  for  the  mission 
established  near  there  by  the  Rev.  Henry  H.  Spalding. — BANCROFT, 
History  of  Washington,  Idaho  and  Montana. 

FORT  LEMHI,  Lemhi  County. — This  fort  was  named  for  Limhi  {q.  v.), 
a  character  in  the  Book  of  Mormon.  It  was  never  a  military  post, 
but  a  fortification  erected  to  protect  the  Mormon  people  who  had 
settled  there.  It  was  constructed  of  mud  and  built  on  the  river  bottom 
near  a  creek  bank.  The  walls  were  moulded  in  successive  forms,  made 
of  twelve  inch  boards,  placed  one  above  the  other,  giving  them  the 
appearance  of  being  made  in  layers.  It  was  nine  feet  high,  two  feet 
wide  and  more  than  sixteen  rods  square  with  a  bastion  on  the  northeast 
corner.  Adjoining  the  wall  on  the  north  was  a  stockade  ten  rods 
square  made  of  ten  inch  round  timbers  twelve  feet  long,  set  on  end 
three  feet  in  the  ground.  Within  the  stockade  were  erected  about 
twenty-five  log  cabins  and  perhaps  one  hundred  people  lived  about 
the  premises.  Stock  and  machinery  were  placed  in  the  mud  fort 
while  the  cabins  were  shelter  and  living  quarters  for  the  families. 
They  cultivated  considerable  ground,  raising  wheat  and  other  farm 
products,  being  the  first  to  apply  irrigation  to  the  lands  in  this  State. 
In  1857  Brigham  Young,  with  a  considerable  retinue,  visited  this 
settlement.  The  Bannack  Indians  killed  two  members  of  this  settle- 
ment, stole  their  stock  and  succeeded  in  driving  them  back  to  Utah. 
This  fort  was  established  in  June,  1855,  and  abandoned  in  March, 
1858.— BANNOCK  KTAKE. 

FORT  SHERMAN,  Kootenai  County.— When  this  post  was  first  established 
it  was  called  Camp  Coeur  d'Alene,  as  it  was  situated  on  the  north 
side  of  the  lake  of  that  name.  It  was  subsequently  named  for  Gen. 
William  T.  Sherman,  who,  while  on  a  tour  of  inspection  of  the  military 
forts  of  the  Northwest,  in  1877,  visited  this  place  and  was  very 
favorably  impressed  with  the  country,  and  recommended  to  Congress 
the  establishment  of  a  military  reservation  and  a  fort.  It  bordered 
the  lake  and  the  Spokane  River,  and  included  about  one  thousand  acres. 
It  proved  of  value  during  the  mining  days  and  the  Coeur  d'Alene  min- 
ing trouble  of  the  '90s,  after  which  it  was  abandoned. — FRENCH, 
History  of  Idaho. 

FRENCH,  Payette  County. — Named  for  Hon.  Burton  L.  French  who  was 
born  in  Carroll  County,  Indiana,  August  1,  1875;  moved  to  Idaho, 
1882;  graduated  from  the  University  of  Idaho,  1901;  elected  to  the 
Ffty-eighth,  Fifty-ninth,  Sixtieth,  Sixty-second,  Sixty-third  and  Sixty- 
fifth  Congresses. — Congressional  Directory. 

C1LMORE,  Lemhi  County.— Named  for  John  T.,  familiarly  called  "Jack 
Gilmer,"   of   the   Gilmer   and    Salisbury    Stage    Company,   who   was    a 


IDAHO    NOMENCLATURE  75 

pioneer  in  the  stage  coach  business  in  the  West.  He  commenced 
staging  in  1859,  under  Russell  and  Waddell.  the  first  stage  coach  men 
of  the  West,  continuing  to  work  for  Ben  Holliday,  who  bought  out 
that  firm  in  1861,  who  in  turn  sold  to  Wells,  Fargo  and  Company 
in  1866,  which  latter  company  afterwards  sold  to  Gilmer  and  Salis- 
bury. A  clerk  in  the  postoffi.ee  department  in  Washington  copied  the 
name  wrong  when  the  postoffice  at  Gilmore  was  established  in   1903. 

GLADE  CREEK,  Selway  County. — This  is  the  name  which  Captains  Lewis 
and  Clark  gave  to  a  small  stream  which  they  first  encountered  when 
they  re-crossed  into  Idaho  from  the  Bitterroot  Valley  over  the  Lolo 
trail  on  September .  13.  1805.  It  was  named  from  the  fact  of  contain- 
ing so  many  beautiful  mountain  abides  and  still  bears  this  name  and 
flows  into  the  Lochsa  River. 

GODDIN  RIVER,  Butte  County.— This  river  was  named  for  Thyery  Goddin. 
an  old  Hudson  Bay  trapper,  who  discovered  the  stream  in  1820  and 
was  also  murdered  thereon  by  the  Blackfeet  Indians  in  1830.  In  the 
early  '70s,  when  the  settlers  came  onto  this  stream,  they  called  it  Big 
Lost  River  (q.  v.),  as  its  flow  would  sink  and  rise,  then  sink  and 
become  lost  from  view,  whence  the  waters  flowed  underground  by 
various   channels  to  the   Snake  River. — ROSS,  Journal. 

GOLD  DISCOVERIES.— Gold  was  first  discovered  on  the  Pacific  slope  in 
1845,  somewhere  on  the  headwaters  of  Malheur  River,  Oregon,  by  a 
party  of  lost  emigrants  who  were  wandering  through  that  country. 
This  discovery  was  called  the  "lost  mine,"  and  the  "mine  of  the  lost 
emigrants,"  and  the  "blue  bucket  mine,"  as  the  emigrants  stated  that 
a  blue  bucket,  which  they  had  of  two  gallons  capacity,  could  have 
been  filled  with  nuggets.  After  the  discovery  of  gold  in  California, 
in  1849,  diligent  search  was  made  for  these  mines,  but  it  is  supposed 
that  they  were  never  found :  however,  it  is  quite  probable  that  the 
numerous  rich  pockets  of  gold  found  in  the  Canyon  City  mines, 
situated  in  the  vicinity  of  the  "lost  mines"  were  those  seen  in  1845. 
In  1852,  some  French-Canadians  made  the  first  discovery  of  gold  in 
Idaho  on  the  Pend  Oreille  River,  but  it  was  not  of  sufficient 
importance  to  attract  attention.  In  1854  Gen.  F.  W.  Lander  dis- 
covered gold  along  the  Snake  River  while  making  a  railroad  recon- 
naissance from  Walla  Walla  to  South  Pass.  In  1858  some  desultory 
placer  mining  was  done  along  the  Mullan  wagon  road  {q.  v.),  on 
some  branches  of  the  Coeur  d'Alene  River.  In  1800,  a  Nez  Perce 
Indian  informed  Capt.  E.  D.  Pierce  that  while  himself  and  two 
companions  were  camping  at  night  among  the  defiles  of  his  native 
mountains  an  apparition  in  the  shape  of  a  brilliant  star  suddenly 
burst  forth  from  among  the  cliffs.  They  believed  it  to  be  the  eye 
of  the  Great  Spirit,  and  when  daylight  had  given  them  sufficient 
courage  they  sought  the  spot  and  found  a  glittering  ball  that  looked 
like  glass  embedded  in  the  solid  rock.  The  Indians  believed  it  to  be 
"great  medicine."  but  could  not  get  it  from  its  resting  place.  With 
his  ardent  imagination  fired  by  such  a  tale.  Captain  Pierce  organized 
a   company   which,   being   piloted   by   a    Nez   Perce    squaw,    found    the 


76  IDAHO    NOMENCLATURE 

famous  Oro  Fino  mines  (q.  v.).  While  working  in  the  Salmon  River 
mines  Moses  Splawn  was  visited  by  a  Bannack  Indian  who  took  an 
interest  in  looking  at  the  gold  which  was  being  taken  from  the 
ground.  One  night,  at  camp,  while  smoking  and  talking,  the  Indian 
told  Splawn  that  in  a  basin  of  the  mountains  far  to  the  south  he,  as  a 
boy,  had  picked  up  chunks  of  yellow  metal  such  as  he  had  seen  worked 
out  of  the  gravel  and  so  described  the  place  that  Splawn,  with  a  party 
of  prospectors,  discovered  the  Boise  basin  diggings  in  18G2.  In  1863 
a  party  of  prospectors,  headed  by  Michael  Jordan  and  A.  J.  Reynolds, 
started  to  find  the  "lost  mines"  on  Sinker  Creek,  so  called  because 
it  was  reported  that  emigrants,  in  fishing  along  this  creek,  used  gold 
nuggets,  picked  up  on  the  creek,  for  sinkers,  discovered  the  famous 
gold  and  silver  mines  of  Jordan  Creek. — BAXCROFT,  History  of 
Washington,   Idaho   and   Montana. 

GOOSE  CREEK,  Cassia  County. — This  stream  was  named  by  members 
of  the  Rocky  Mountain  Fur  Company  under  Milton  Sublette  in  1832, 
because  of  the  vast  numbers  of  geese  which  congregated  upon  and  fed 
along  its   course. 

GRIMES  CREEK,  Boise  County. — This  creek  was  named  for  George  Grimes 
of  Oregon  City,  who  was  the  leader  of  the  prospecting  party  that  dis- 
covered gold  in  the  Boise  basin  in  August,  1862.  He  was  shot  and 
killed  by  their  Indian  guide  at  the  pass  between  the  south  fork  of 
the  Payette  River  and  the  stream  which  bears  his  name.  The  guide 
was  killed  in  the  summer  of  1863,  by  the  party  led  by  Capt.  J.  J. 
Standifer  which  was  hunting  Indians  that  had  murdered  other  miners. — 
BANCROFT,  History  of  Washington,  Idaho  and  Montana. 

HAILEY,  Blaine  County. — Named  for  Hon.  John  Hailey  who  was  born 
in  Smith  County,  Tennessee,  August  29,  1835;  moved  to  Oregon,  1853; 
moved  to  Idaho  and  established  a  stage  line,  1863;  delegate  to  the 
Forty-third  and  Forty-ninth  Congresses ;  librarian  Idaho  Historical 
Society;   author  of  History  of  Idaho,  published  in   1910. 

HAMER,  Jefferson  County. — Named  for  Hon.  Thomas  R.  Hamer  who  was 
born  in  Fulton  County,  Illinois,  May  4,  1864;  graduated  from  the 
Bloomington  Law  School,  1891;  moved  to  Idaho  and  entered  upon 
the  practice  of  the  law,  1893;  promoted  to  colonel  in  the  Philippine 
War,  1899;   elected  to  the  Sixty-first  Congress. 

IIAWLEY,  Blaine  County.— Named  for  Hon.  James  H.  Hawley  who  was 
born  in  Dubuque  County,  Iowa,  January  17,  1847 ;  attended  public 
schools  of  Iowa;  moved  to  California,  1861;  moved  to  Idaho  and 
started  mining,  1862;  studied  law  and  began  its  practice,  1871; 
United  States  district  attorney  for  Idaho,  1885-9;  governor  of  Idaho, 
1910-12. 

HENRY'S  FORK  AND  LAKE,  Fremont  County.— These  were  named  for 
Andrew  Henry,  who  was  a  partner  in  the  Missouri  Fur  Company  and 
who,  with  a  party  and  supplies  attempted  to  establish  a  post  at  the 
three  forks  of  the  Missouri  River  in  1809,  but  was  driven  out  by 
Blackfeet  Indians,   after  which   he  moved   south  over  the   Continental 


IDAHO    NOMENCLATURE  77 

Divide  and  established  Fort  Henry  (q.  v.) .—CHITTENDEN,  American 
Fur  Trade. 

HISTORICAL.— Until  1848  what  is  now  Idaho  was  a  part  of  the  North- 
west coast.  From  1848  to  1853  it  was  a  part  of  Oregon  territory. 
From  1853  to  1859  all  Idaho  north  of  40°  was  attached  to  Washing:- 
ton  Territory,  while  all  south  of  that  line  remained  in  Oregon.  From 
1859  to  1863  all  Idaho  was  a  part  of  Washington.  The  name  Idaho  was 
first  applied  in  18G3  when  it  was  formed  into  a  territory.  In  18(i4 
Montana  and  in  18G8  Wyoming  were  created  out  of  Idaho,  and  in 
1890  it  was  admitted  as  the  forty-third  state  of  the  American  Union. 
Oregon  is  Idaho's  grandmother;  Washington  her  mother;  and  Montana 
and  Wyoming  her  daughters. 

HOLE. — This  is  a  Rocky  Mountain  pioneer  term  meaning  a  level,  grassy 
area  surrounded  by  mountains.  Later  people  designated  such  places 
as  "basins"  or  "parks."  Many  of  the  narrow  valleys  of  the  Rocky 
Mountains  were  called  "holes"  in  the  early  fur  trading  and  trapping 
days.  The  name  seems  to  have  originated  from  the  fact  that  the 
trapper,  in  passing  up  and  down  the  main  streams,  would  pass  the 
narrow  opening  or  outlet  of  the  tributary,  in  the  bank  or  bluff  along 
the  main  river.  These  narrow  openings  in  the  hills  appeared  so  much 
like  holes  that  they  received  this  name,  and  where  a  trapper  was 
known  to  frequent  one  particular  stream,  the  valley  was  usually 
named  after  him. — LEONARD,  Narrative. 

HUDSON  BAY  COMPANY.— This  company  was  organized  in  England  in 
1G70,  with  a  charter  to  trade  in  Hudson  Bay,  Canada,  and  all  other 
countries  not  possessed  by  other  powers,  its  only  obligation  being  to 
give  to  the  King  of  England  two  elk  and  two  beaver,  should  he  ever 
visit  their  territory,  which  he  never  did.  It  exercised  supreme  civil 
and  criminal  jurisdiction  over  all  countries  and  people  that  came 
under  its  sway.  It  had  powers  to  pass  laws,  grant  lands,  and  make 
war  and  peace.  It  owned  in  the  Northwest  country  thirty  trading 
posts,  of  which  Fort  Hall  ( q.  v. )  and  Fort  Boise  ( q.  v. )  were  in- 
cluded. Idaho  belonged  to  the  Columbia  district,  with  Fort  Vancouver, 
Washington,  its  emporium  and  John  McLoughlin  the  master  in  charge. 
Its  business  was  solely  trading  and  trapping,  and  it  absorbed  all  other 
English  companies  and  enjoyed  its  monopoly  for  two  hundred  years, 
but  in  1870  its  territory  was  brought  under  the  Dominion  of  Canada. — 
BANCROFT,  Northwest   Coast. 

HUNGRY  CREEK,  Selway  County. — This  creek  was  so  named  by  Captain 
Clark  on  September  18,  1805,  -because  here  they  had  nothing  to  eat 
and  had  to  go  hungry.     It  is  a  small  stream  flowing  into  Lochsa   River. 

HUNT-ASTORIA  PARTY.— The  Pacific  Fur  Company  was  organized  by 
John  Jacob  Astor  for  the  purpose  of  monopolizing  the  fur  business 
in  the  United  States,  by  erecting  trading  posts  from  the  Atlantic  to 
the  Pacific,  with  Astoria  the  principal  depot.  Two  expeditions  were 
sent  to  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia  River  in  1811.  One  by  water  and 
the  other  an  overland  expedition  under  the  command  of  Wilson  P.  Hunt 
with  sixty  men.    The  party  came  into  Idaho  thru  the  Teton  Pass  (q.  v.) 


78  IDAHO    NOMENCLATURE 

and  at  Fort  Henry  [q.  v.)  erected  fifteen  boats  with  which  to  float 
down  the  Snake  River  (</.  v.),  but  it  proved  so  dangerous  that  they 
abandoned  the  boats  and  divided  their  party  into  two  sections-;  one 
of  eighteen  men  and  guides  under  Hunt  traveled  the  right  bank  of 
the  river,  and  the  other,  with  the  remainder  of  the  party  under 
Ramsay  Crooks,  traveled  the  left  bank.  Out  on  the  Snake  River 
plains  {q.  v.)  and  desert  they  experienced  great  suffering,  losing  four- 
teen men,  and  so  great  were  their  privations  that  the  expedition  was 
characterized  as  one  of  unparalleled  hardships  in  which  was  endured 
the  greatest  suffering  ever  known  to  American  mountaineering.  This 
was  the  first  expedition  across  southern  Idaho  as  the  Lewis  and 
Clark  was  the  first  across  northern  Idaho. — BANCROFT,  Northwest 
Coast. 

HYNDMAN  PEAK.— This  is  the  highest  elevation  in  Idaho,  being  12,078 
feet  above  sea  level,  and  is  located  on  the  Lost  River  range  of  moun- 
tains, which  forms  the  county  boundary  between  Custer  and  Blaine 
counties.  It  was  named  for  Major  William  Hyndman,  a  veteran  of 
the  Civil  War  and  a  prominent  lawyer  and  mining  man  of  Wood 
River  in  the  early  '80s. 

IDAHO  CITY,  Boise  County.— Idaho  City,  which  went  at  first  by  the 
name  of  "Moore's  Creek,"  so  named  after  Marion  Moore,  one  of  the 
first  prospectors  who  discovered  gold  in  that  locality  and  mined  ex- 
tensively there,  and  who  wTas  killed  afterwards  somewhere  near  South 
Pass  ( q.  v. ) .  After  the  place  began  to  grow  populous,  it  took  the  name 
of  Bannack  and  when  still  larger  grown  and  able  to  sport  city  costumes 
its  denizens  voted  to  call  their  town  "Idaho  City."— BRISTOL,  Idaho 
Nomenclature. 

IDAHO  PIONEER  DAY. — This  day  is  June  15th,  which  was  made  a  holi- 
day by  the  State  Legislature  in  1911.  That  was  the  day  on  which 
Fort  Limhi  [q.  v.)  was  established  by  the  Mormon  people  from  Utah 
in  1855.  Their  historian  states  that  the  headwaters  of  the  east  branch 
of  the  Salmon  River,  now  known  as  Lemhi  River,  was  reached  by 
the  party  and  President  Smith  called  a  halt.  Selecting  five  brethren 
of  the  camp  he  proceeded,  on  the  14th  of  June,  about  thirty  miles 
farther  down  the  river  to  explore  for  a  suitable  place  to  locate  a 
settlement.  On  the  15th  they  selected  a  site  for  a  fort  and  a  tract  of 
land  for  farming.— BANNOCK  STAKE. 

INDIANS. — Columbus  called  the  natives  who  occupied  the  country  where 
he  landed  "Indios,"  i.  e.,  natives  of  India,  whence  the  English  word 
"Indian,"  meaning  the  people  inhabiting  aboriginal  America.  There 
have  been  many  absurd  and  extravagant  speculations  as  to  the  origin 
of  the  American  Indian  and  the  numerous  popular  fallacies  have 
derived  them,  both  in  remote  and  modern  times,  from  all  regions  of 
the  Old  World.  Two  theories  are  most  conspicuous;  first,  that  of 
Welsh  Indians,  who  were  descended  from  a  reputed  colony  founded 
by  Prince  Madoc,  but  the  effort  to  identify  such  tribes  caused  the 
theory  to  recede  farther  and  farther  west  until  it  vanished  over  the 
Pacific.     It  was  thought  that  in  the  names  Moqui  and  Modoc,  Welsh 


IDAHO    NOMENCLATURE  79 

elements  were  detected;  second,  that  of  the  Lost  Ten  Tribes  of  Israel, 
endeavoring  by  distorted  views  to  make  a  resemblance  in  ideas,  cus- 
toms and  institutions  between  the  American  Indian  and  the  ancient 
Hebrew ;  also  the  Mormon  religion  is  founded  upon  the  dispersion 
of  some  of  the  Jewish  race  in  America.  However,  no  theory  of  a 
foreign  origin  has  been  proven  or  even  fairly  sustained.  Scientists 
now  regard  the  Indian  as  autochthonic  and  not  of  exotic  origin,  and 
ethnologists  consider  them  a  single  specie  of  the  human  race  and 
divide  them  into  fifty-five  linguistic  families.  The  Indians  of  Idaho 
belong  to  the  Shoshonean  {q.  v.),  Shahaptan  {q.  v.),  Salishan  ( q.  v.) 
and  Kitunahan   (q.  v.)   families. — Encyclopaedia  Britannica. 

INDIAN  AGENTS. — It  was  natural  that  the  army  should  be  the  first  part 
of  our  administrative  system  to  come  in  contact  with  the  aborigines, 
and  therefore  all  business  connected  with  Indian  affairs  was,  in  the 
beginning,  conducted  by  and  thru  the  War  Department.  The  agents 
first  appointed  were  military  officers  and  given  the  rank  of  major. 
In  1849,  Indian  affairs  were  transferred  to  the  Interior  Department 
and  administered  by  civil  officers;  however,  the  empty  title  of  major 
still  adhered  to  Indian  agents.  After  1849  each  governor  of  a  terri- 
tory was  made  the  Superintendent  of  Indian  Affairs  in  his  jurisdic- 
tion, but  in  1869  this  was  changed  by  President  Grant,  who  assigned 
to  the  various  religious  denominations  the  appointment  of  agents 
from  the  different  churches.  This  method,  however,  proved  unsatis- 
factory and  was  soon  abandoned,  after  which  bonded  agents  appointed 
from  civil  life  by  the  President  for  a  term  of  four  years  was  inaugu- 
rated. These  appointments  were  political,  according  to  the  spoils  sys- 
tem, and  continued  so  until  the  advent  of  civil  service  reform,  after 
which  the  Indian  agent  became  designated  a  Superintendent  and  held 
his  position  under  rules  and  regulations  of  the  civil  service  com- 
mission.— REES,  History  of  Lemhi  County. 

INDIAN  CHARACTEPJSTICS.— Poetry,  romance  and  the  novel  have 
created,  in  the  popular  mind,  a  higher  type  of  Indian  than  ever  existed. 
This  false  impression  has  worked  a  great  injustice  upon  him  by  ex- 
pecting too  much  from  his  nature.  Physically  he  was  more  adroit 
than  the  wildest  game;  more  fleet  of  foot  than  the  elk  or  deer,  and 
more  stealthy  than  the  wolf.  He  ate  a  prodigious  amount  when 
food  was  plentiful,  but  could  subsist  on  as  little  as  any  animal  or 
person  when  compelled  to  do  so.  When  rations  were  issued  to  him, 
a  week's  supply  was  consumed  in  two  days,  starving  the  balance  of 
the  time  without  a  murmur.  In  his  mind,  the  Indian  was  first  in 
the  plan  of  creation,  being  above  and  superior  to  any  other  race,  and 
it  only  resulted  in  deterioration  of  the  Indian  and  unfitted  him  for 
his  higher  destiny,  to  be  taught  anything  by  the  white  man  a-^  the 
paleface  had  not  the  capacity  for  knowing  the  true  inwardness  of 
things  as  had  the  red  man.  No  method,  instruction  or  persuasion 
ever  changed  his  opinion  one  iota  in  regard  to  his  own  superiority. 
The  name  for  his  tribe  always  expressed  this  predominating  thot. 
as  its  interpretation  usually  meant  some  kind  of  distinguished  people. 


80  IDAHO    NOMENCLATURE 

Every  tribe  had  a  vague  myth  or  legend  of  the  white  man  and  was 
always  expecting,  some  day,  to  meet  him.  The  Indian  considered  the 
sun  his  father,  the  giver  of  light,  both  physical  and  mental,  and  also 
the  source  of  his  own  spirit,  which  would  eventually  return  to  it. 
The  sun  he  called  "Tahbe,"  meaning  the  "shining  one."  The  white 
man  being  a  later  offspring,  a  younger  brother  as  it  were,  was  called 
"Ti-bo,"  or  "one  originating  from  the  sun."  Upon  his  first  advent,  the 
white  man  was  usually  welcomed  by  the  Indian  and  shown  the  greatest 
hospitality,  and  the  red  man  cheerfully  divided  with  him  his  food  supply. 
But  the  white  man's  grasping  instincts  and  his  innate  desire  to  oppress 
the  weak  soon  developed  in  the  Indian  a  hatred  of  the  white  race, 
which  is  best  expressed  by  Mr.  Jefferson,  when  he  wrote  in  the 
Declaration  of  Independence,  "merciless  Indian  savages,  whose  known 
method  of  warfare  is  an  undisguised  destruction  of  all  ages,  sexes  and 
conditions."  The  Indian  considered  the  earth  his  mother  from  whence 
his  body  came  and  to  her  he  expected  it  to  return  at  death,  and 
always  loved  that  part  of  the  world  upon  which  he  had  been  born, 
and  held  to  it  most  tenaciously,  even  tho  a  desert  or  rock,  and 
when  the  white  man  wanted  to  despoil  him  of  his  lands,  it  meant 
to  him  the  taking  away  his  mother  and  his  sustenance  which  he  re- 
sisted to  the  last.  He  met  force  with  force,  reason  with  a  knife,  and 
logic  with  a  club.  The  country  was  his,  ajid  he,  an  uncontrolled  child 
of  nature,  roamed  over  it  without  restraint  and  considered  himself 
the  perfection  of  the  wild  man  and  invoked  the  continuation  of  these 
conditions  by  his  sun  and  ghost  dances,  the  result  of  which  would 
ultimately  be  the  resurrection  of  all  dead  Indians.  A  belief  in  a 
"Good,"  "Evil"  or  "Great  Spirit,'  or  the  "Happy  Hunting  Ground"  are 
conceptions  created  entirely  by  the  white  man,  as  originally  the  Indian 
had  no  such  ideas.  He  had  no  religion,  simply  a  superstition,  in  which 
every  object  was  animated  with  some  force  within  itself.  To  him  noth- 
ing is  accounted  for  by  natural  causes.  Any  investigator,  wedded  to  a 
theory,  having  plenty  of  money,  could  obtain  ample  proof  of  his  theory 
from  most  any  one  of  the  tribe,  as  the  Indian  liked  to  be  led  in  con- 
versation, especially  if  there' was  anything  in  it,  and  too  often  have 
many  fanciful  theories  of  Indians  been  thus  substantiated.  It  requires 
years  of  intimate  acquaintanceship  to  understand  their  inward  thots. 
No  Indian  ever  had  the  most  distant  conception  of  the  sentiment  of 
gratitude.  Numberless  benefits  could  be  conferred  upon  them  for  years, 
yet  they  would  simply  expect  more.  They  do  not  seem  to  comprehend 
the  motive  which  dictates  an  act  of  benevolence  or  charity,  and  they 
invariably  attribute  it  to  fear  or  the  expectation  of  reward.  When  they 
make  a  present  it  is  with  a  view  of  getting  more  than  its  equivalent  in 
return.  All  the  beautiful  scenery  and  bounties  of  nature  that  please, 
ennoble  and  entrance  the  soul  and  of  which  the  Indian  was  an  especial 
recipient,  did  not  inspire  him  to  softer  ways  of  life  nor  ways  of  refined 
peace,  but  did  show  in  his  speech  and  in  the  consummate  metaphors  of 
Indian  eloquence  which  was  so  manifest  in  all  the  race.  The  men  were 
divided  into  war  chiefs,  civil  chiefs,  warriors  and  braves.    They  were 


IDAHO    NOMENCLATURE  81 

not  a  brave  people  in  that  to  meet  an  enemy  on  equal  terms  was  con- 
sidered by  them  extreme  folly,  and  to  fall  in  battle  was  reckoned  rash- 
ness and  imprudence.  To  use  cunning,  deceit  and  surprise  or  an  attack 
of  odds  of  ten  to  one  was  a  point  of  honor  with  them,  and  to  lie  in  wait 
and  steal  upon  his  prey  or  massacre  helpless  women  and  children  were 
considered  deeds  of  glory.  As  to  the  Indian's  civilization,  Prof.  William 
T.  Hornady  aptly  wrote,  "Savage  tribes  deteriorate  morally,  physically 
and  numerically,  according  to  the  degree  in  which  they  are  influenced 
by  civilization.  Those  which  yield  most  readily  to  the  mild  blandish- 
ments of  the  missionary,  the  school-teacher  and  the  merchant  are  the 
first  to  disappear  from  the  face  of  the  earth.  Behind  the  philanthropical 
pioneer  of  Christian  civilization,  even  tho  he  bears  in  his  hands  only 
the  Bible  and  spelling  book,  there  lurks  a  host  of  modern  vices  and 
diseases  more  deadly  than  the  spears  and  poisoned  arrows  of  the 
savage.  To  improve  a  savage  race  is  to  weaken  it;  to  wholly  civilize  and 
convert  it  is  to  exterminate  it  altogether.  Like  the  wild  beasts  of  the 
forest,  the  children  of  nature  disappear  before  the  grinding  progress  of 
civilization."  Christianity  is  the  religion  of  civilized  man  and  before 
any  savage  can  be  Christianized,  he  must  be  civilized,  and  there  is  no 
hope  that  the  American  Indian  can  ever  be  civilized.  Dr.  Charles  Cald- 
well has  very  appropriately  written,  "Of  the  full-blooded  Indians,  such 
is  their  entire  unfitness  for  civilization,  that  every  successive  effort  to 
mold  them  to  that  condition  of  life,  more  and  more  deteriorates  their 
character.  Of  the  mixed  bloods  this  is  not  true.  The  cerebral  develop- 
ment and  the  general  character  of  the  mixed  breeds  approach  those  of 
the  white  man  in  proportion  to  the  degree  of  white  blood  which  in- 
dividuals possess.  Hence,  the  only  efficient  scheme  to  civilize  tho 
Indian  is  to  cross  the  breed.  Attempt  any  other  and  the  race  will 
become  extinguished.  The  real  aboriginal  Indian  is  retreating  before 
civilization  and  disappearing  with  the  buffalo,  elk,  panther  and  grizzly 
bear.  Let  the  benevolent  missionary  say  what  he  may,  the  forest  is  the 
natural  home  of  the  Indian,  and  his  native  efficiency,  under  the  in- 
exorable natural  law  of  the  'survival  of  the  fittest'  is  gone  when  he  is 
removed  therefrom.  The  vast  American  wilderness  required  a  race  of 
savages  to  people  it,  but  converted,  as  that  wilderness  now  is,  into 
cultivated  fields  and  populous  cities,  the  abode  of  civilization,  com- 
merce and  the  arts,  the  mere  man  of  the  forest  is  no  longer  wanted, 
and  he  is  therefore  passing  away.  He  has  flourished — he  was  needed ; 
but  he  is  needed  no  longer,  and  therefore  decays."  A  French  investiga- 
tor once  wrote  that  the  American  Indian  was  an  enigma,  and  with  all 
we  know  of  him  today,  he  is  still  an  enigma.  Thru  breeding  and  mixing 
with  other  races,  he  is  now  becoming  so  developed  that  he  can  absorb 
the  virtues  of  civilization  without  being  weakened  by  its  vices,  and 
instead  of  an  early  extinction,  as  appeared  likely  only  a  few  years  ago, 
he  is  now  increasing  in  population  in  the  United  States. — REPORT  on 
Indians. 
INDIAN  NAMES. — In  the  matter  of  naming  individuals  it  ofttimes  occurs 
that  an  Indian  attains  manhood  or  even  old  age  before  acquiring  a 


82  IDAHO    NOMENCLATURE 

permanent  name,  whilst  at  other  times  a  striking  exploit  might  cause 
a  change  and  another  name  be  received.  It  was  found,  while  taking 
the  census  of  the  Lemhis  {q.  v.),  in  1900,  that  about  one-fourth  of  the 
children,  up  to  the  age  of  fifteen  years,  had  no  name  at  all  and  were 
designated  "Ka"  meaning  "not"  and  "nany-ack,"  ''name"  or  "not 
named."  The  spirit  which  actuated  the  event  that  selected  his  true 
name  was  a  propitious  affair  and  therefore  this  particular  designation, 
together  with  the  physical  body,  the  recipient  of  that  name,  were  most 
sacred  things  to  him  and  to  tell  that  name  or  have  that  body  photo- 
graphed was  to  lose  part  of  his  nature  which  would  be  missed  by  him 
hereafter.  When  asked  to  give  his  name  he  will  not  do  it,  but  an  Indian 
with  him  may  give  it,  and  he  would  almost  as  soon  give  up  his  life  as 
to  have  his  picture  taken.  Civilization  with  its  commercialized  practices 
has  changed  many  of  his  ways.  The  Indian  had  no  extensive  or  per- 
manent geographical  names  and  only  referred  to  localities  from  some 
peculiarity  or  characteristic  of  the  place.  Eight-tenths  of  Indian  geo- 
graphical names  were  coined  on  the  spot  from  some  particular  attribute 
which  was  most  striking  in  the  Indian's  mind  at  the  time. 

INDIAN  POLICY. — The  nations  of  Europe  recognized  the  Indian  as  the 
owner  of  the  soil  and  before  the  land  could  be  acquired  the  Indian's 
title  must  be  extinguished  by  treaty.  The  United  States  claimed  the 
paramount  title  to  all  lands  and  the  Indian's  only  right  therein  was 
that  of  occupancy.  From  1789  to  1869  Indian  tribes  were  recognized 
as  separate  nations  and  treaties  were  made  with  them  relative  to  their 
occupancy  of  the  land.  Up  to  1890  the  United  States  had  made  450 
treaties  with  157  tribes.  After  18G9  the  tribes  were  no  longer  treated 
as  independent  nations  but  as  wards  of  the  Government  and  all  acts 
relative  to  the  disposition  of  the  lands  which  they  occupied  was  made 
by  executive  orders.  The  Indian  was  "controlled  in  an  indefinite  way  by 
the  War  Department  until  1848  at  which  date  the  Interior  Department 
was  created  to  which  the  Bureau  of  Indian  Affairs  was  transferred, 
changing  the  control  from  the  military  to  civil  rule.  In  1869  the  reser- 
vation system  was  inaugurated  whereby  the  Indian  was  to  stop  roam- 
ing and  settle  down  on  the  reserves,  which  were  made  permanent,  but 
the  constant  demands  made  for  settlement  and  the  gradual  encroach- 
ments of  the  whites  caused  the  government,  in  1887,  to  pass  the 
allotment  act  forcing  the  Indians  to  take  lands  in  severalty  and  selling 
the  surplus,  thus  destroying  the  reservations  and  tribal  conditions. — 
REPORT  on  Indians. 

JERKED  BEEF. — This  is  a  Peruvian  Indian  name,  "char-qui,"  meaning 
pieces  of  beef  cut  in  long  strips  about  an  inch  wide  and  dried  in  the 
sun.  The  word  has  been  corrupted  into  "jerked"  under  which  title 
it  is  best  known. 

JOHN  DAY'S  DEFILE,  Lemhi  County.— Donald  Mackenzie,  in  the  fall  of 
1819,  led  the  Snake  country  expedition  [q.  v.)  into  Lemhi  County  where 
they  trapped  during  the  winter  and  where  in  February,  1820,  one  of  the 
party,  John  Day,  after  whom  John  Day  River  in  Oregon  had  been 
named,  died  and  his  bones  lie  buried  somewhere  in  what  is  now  Birch 


IDAHO    NOMENCLATURE  83 


Creek  Valley.  Before  passing  away  he  had  written  and  witnessed,  in 
camp  on  this  mountain  stream,  his  last  will,  in  which  among  other 
things  he  bequeathed  some  money,  in  the  hands  of  his  former  master, 
John  Jacob  Astor,  for  whom  he  had  worked  in  the  establishment  of 
Fort  Astoria,  Oregon.  This  will  was  probated  in  New  York  in  1836, 
proving  to  be  the  first  will  executed,  not  only  in  Lemhi,  but  on  Idaho 
soil,  and  perhaps  on  the  Northwest  Coast,  and  the  fur  trappers  named 
the  creek  John  Day's  Defile,  which  is  now  called  Birch  Creek,  from  the 
amount  of  birch  timber  growing  thereon.  In  1855  the  Mormons  called 
it  Clear  Creek.  Mr.  Irving  was  mistaken  when  he  stated  in  "Astoria" 
that  John  Day  died  about  the  year  1813. — Oregon  Historical  Quarterly. 

JOHN  GRAY  LAKE,  Bonneville  County. — This  lake  was  named  for  a 
Canadian  trapper  in  the  employ  of  the  Hudson  Bay  Company,  who  in 
1819  discovered  it. 

JORDAN  CREEK,  Owyhee  County. — This  stream  was  named  for  Michael 
M.  Jordan  who  was  the  leader  of  the  party  that  discovered  gold  on 
this  creek  in  May,  1863,  while  looking  for  the  "lost  mine."  He  was 
killed  at  an  Indian  fight  in  the  Owyhee  country  in  1864. — BANCROFT, 
History  of  Washington,  Idaho  and  Montana. 

JOSEPH,  Idaho  County. — Named  for  Chief  Joseph  of  the  Non-Treaty  Nez 
Perces  {q.  v.).  Most  things,  among  whites,  that  are  mysterious  or 
weird  are  named  for  the  Devil,  as  "Seven  Devils,"  or  his  abode,  "Hell," 
as  "Hellgate."  Hundreds  of  geographical  names  are  thus  derived.  Like- 
wise, anything  that  is  mysterious  or  weird  to  the  Indian  mind  is  des- 
ignated "Thunder,"  as  in  Thunder  Mountain  ( q.  v. ) .  Joseph  possessing 
a  somber  nature  was  designated  accordingly,  so  that  his  Indian  name, 
"Hinmaton,"  meant  in  English,  "The  thunder  that  passes  through  the 
earth  and  water."  "Joseph"  was  a  baptismal  name  given  Chief  Joseph's 
father  by  Rev.  Henry  H.  Spalding  (q.  v.)  and  it  became  a  tribal  name 
to  him  who  should  succeed  to  the  chieftainship.  In  the  Nez  Perce  War 
of  1877  he  was  war  chief  of  the  tribe  and  after  their  defeat  by  Gen. 
0.  0.  Howard  at  the  battle  of  Clearwater,  he  advised  his  tribe  to  re- 
main upon  the  lands  of  their  inheritance  and  fight  it  out  there,  giving 
up  their  lives  only  on  the  soil  of  their  homes.  But  other  counsel  pre- 
vailed. He  then  led  the  tribe,  consisting  of  men,  women  and  children, 
a  distance  of  1500  miles,  it  requiring  the  services  of  forty  com- 
panies of  soldiers  and  hundreds  of  volunteers  and  scouts  for  three 
months  to  capture  them,  and  so  masterly  was  this  retreat  conducted 
that  he  became  known  as  the  "Xenephon  of  the  red  men."  Afterwards 
he  became  reconciled  to  civilization  and  discouraged  the  vices  and  aided 
in  the  education  of  his  tribe,  yet  it  is  said  that  he  was  ofttimes  seen  to 
brood  over  his  campfires  as  if  he  observed  some  mournful  scene  within 
its  consuming  ilames.  The  account  of  this  war  and  its  results  by  the 
Indians  of  this  tribe  is  very  pathetic  and  is  quite  beyond  description. — 
HANDBOOK  of  American  Indians. 

KALISPEL,  Kootenai  County. — This  name  as  applied  in  the  state  is  spelled 
"Calispel."  It  is  the  Indian  name  for  the  Pend  Oreilles  {q.  v.),  and  in 
English  means   "Canoe"   or   "Boat   People,"   as  they   lived   almost   in 


84  IDAHO    NOMENCLATURE 

boats,  either  on  Pend  Oreille  Lake  or  along  Clark's  fork.  They  belonged 
to  the  Salish  family  {q.  v.).  There  were  two  divisions  of  this  tribe; 
those  living  on  Pend  Oreille  Lake  and  Clark's  fork  above  the  lake  were 
called  the  Upper  Pend  Oreilles  and  in  1855  were  placed  on  a  reserve 
with  their  kinsmen,  the  Flatheads,  in  Montana,  which  later  became 
the  Jocko  reservation,  and  those  that  inhabited  the  Clark's  fork  below 
the  lake  called  the  Lower  Pend  Oreilles  which,  in  1872,  were  placed  on 
the  Colville  reservation,  Washington,  along  with  their  kinsmen,  the 
Colvilles. 

KAMI  All,  Selway  County. — This  place  was  named  for  Kamiakan,  chief  of 
the  Yakimas,  who  was  the  leader  of  the  confederated  tribes  that  par- 
ticipated in  the  Yakima  Indian  War  of  1855-8.  His  father  was  a  noted 
warrior  of  the  Nez  Perce  tribe  and  his  mother  a  princess  of  the  Yaki- 
mas. He  was  born  on  the  Clearwater  about  1800  and  was  raised  there 
until  about  ten  years  of  age  when  his  mother  returned  with  him  to  her 
tribe.  Kamiakan  is  a  Shoshoni  word  meaning  "Ka,"  "not,"  "mee-ah," 
"to  go"  and  "kam-man,"  "want,"  or  in  plain  English,  "He  does  not 
want  to  go."  It  is  said  that  he  did  not  want  to  leave  the  Nez  Perce 
tribe  when  a  child. — SPLAWN,  Kamiakan. 

KETCHUM,  Blaine  County. — This  is  the  name  of  one  of  the  mining  dis- 
tricts of  the  Wood  River  region  and  was  at  first  called  "Leadville," 
but  in  1880  the  name  of  the  postoffice  was  changed  by  the  department 
and  was  thus  called  for  David  Ketchum  an  early  settler  of  this  country. 
—ONDERDONK,  Idaho. 

KIMOOENIM. — This  is  the  name  Captains  Lewis  and  Clark  gave  to  the 
Snake  River  after  its  junction  with  the  Clearwater,  or  that  portion 
extending  from  Lewiston  {q.  v.)  to  the  Columbia  River  (q.  v.).  It  is  a 
Shoshoni  word  meaning  "Kim,"  "come,"  "boo-ee,"  "to  see"  and  "nim," 
"Indian,"  or  in  English  "Indians  come  to  see."  Lewis  and  Clark  state 
in  their  journal  of  September  10,  1805,  that  just  after  reaching  the 
Snake  River  at  the  junction  of  the  streams,  "our  arrival  soon  attracted 
the  attention  of  the  Indians,  who  flocked  in  all  directions  to  see  us." 
This  was  the  incident  which  gave  the  stream  this  name  and  was  applied 
on  September  13,  1805. — IIOSMER,  Lewis  and  Clark. 

KINSHIP. — Kinship  among  Indians  is  illustrated  as  follows:  Suppose  the 
man  beside  me  married  my  daughter,  his  and  my  daughter's  children 
would  call  me  grandfather;  all  of  the  children  would  call  this  man's 
brothers  fathers,  and  his  sisters  aunts;  they  would  call  my  daughter's 
sisters  mothers,  and  her  brothers  uncles;  they  would  call  all  this 
man's  brother's  children  brothers  and  sisters,  all  of  his  sister's  children 
cousins;  they  would  call  all  the  children  of  my  daughter's  sisters 
brothers  and  sisters,  and  all  of  her  brother's  children  cousins — CLARK, 
Indian  Sign  Language. 

KITUNAHAN. — A  linguistic  family  of  perhaps  1500  Indians  that  occupied 
southeastern  British  Columbia,  northern  Idaho  and  northwestern  Mon- 
tana. The  name  was  given  to  designate  those  Indians  living  between 
the  forks  of  the  Columbia  River  and  there  were  two  divisions  of  them; 


IDAHO    NOMENCLATURE  85 

the  Upper  Kutenais  of  British  Columbia  and  those  of  the  United  States 
called  the  Lower  Kutenais   (g.  v.). — POWELL,  Linguistic  Families. 

KOOSKOOSKE,  Clearwater  County. — This  name  was  given  this  stream  on 
September  14,  1805,  by  Captain  Clark,  who  stated  that  that  was  the 
name  given  it  by  the .  Nez  Perees.  "Koos-koos"  means  "water"  and 
"ki-ki,"  "white"  and  when  applied  to  water  means  "clear."  The  word 
should  be  "Koos-koos-ki-ki"  meaning  in  English  "Clearwater"    (g.  v.). 

KULLEYSPELL  HOUSE,  Bonner  County.— This  was  the  first  establish- 
ment erected  in  the  Columbia  River  Basin  and  was  built  by  David 
Thompson  for  the  Northwest  Fur  Company  in  the  fall  of  1809  on  Pend 
Oreille  Lake  where  Hope,  Idaho,  now  stands.  It  was  called  Kulleyspell 
for  the  Pend  Oreille  Indians,  that  being  their  own  name  for  themselves, 
and  which  is  now  called  Kalispel  {q.  v.).  This  house  was  a  simple  log 
building  which  was  soon  after  abandoned  and  has  been  totally  destroyed 
by  forest  fires.    Some  evidences  of  old  rock  chimneys  remain. 

KUTENAI,  Boundary  County. — This  tribe  was  the  Lower  Kutenais  or 
Cootenais  of  the  Kitunahan  family  (q.  v.),  and  claimed  all  Idaho  that 
drained  into  the  Kootenai  River,  consisting  of  the  larger  part  of 
Boundary  County  (q.  v.).  Kutenai  is  their  own  name  for  themselves 
and  means  "Water  People,"  as  they  lived,  virtually,  in  the  water.  The 
Canadian  French  called  the  Kootenai  River,  by  reason  of  its  resem- 
blance, the  "Flatbow"  and  these  Indians  were,  at  times,  called  the 
"Flatbows."  In  1855  they  entered  into  a  treaty  with  the  government  by 
which  the  tribe  accepted  the  Flathead  Reservation,  Montana,  as  their 
reserve.  No  extinguishment  of  their  territorial  rights  was  ever  made, 
the  United  States  simply  taking  possession  of  their  country,  but  in 
1872  their  claims  were  given  up  by  the  scattered  remnants  who  were 
placed  on  the  Colville  Reservation,  Washington. 

LANDER'S  CUTOFF.— This  was  a  shorter  route  from  South  Pass  (q.  v.) 
to  Snake  River  (q.  v.)  than  the  Oregon  Trail  {  q.  v.) .  It  was  located 
in  1854  by  Gen.  F.  W.  Lander  while  making  a  reconnaissance  survey 
for  the  Northern  Pacific  Railroad  and  became  the  main  thorofare  for 
immigrants  going  to  the  Montana  mines  from  and  after  18G4.  It  left 
South  Tass  by  going  directly  westward,  crossing  the  headwaters  of 
Little  and  Big  Sandy  rivers  and  thence  to  Green  River,  crossing  it 
near  the  mouth  of  the  east  fork,  thence  across  the  Salt  River  Range 
thru  Thompson's  Pass  on  to  Salt  River,  entering  Idaho  near  the  Oneida 
Salt  works,  thence  to  John  Gray's  Lake  {q.  v.)  and  to  Blackfoot  River, 
following  down  the  headwaters  of  this  stream  for  a  distance,  thence 
across  to  Lincoln  or  Fort  Hall  Creek  and  down  that  to  its  junction  with 
the  Blackfoot  River  where  this  stream  was  crossed  and  from  thence  to 
the  Salt  Lake-Helena  stage  road  coming  into  it  northeast  of  the  town 
of  Blackfoot. 

LAPWAI,  Nez  Perce  County. — This  is  a  Nez  Perce  Indian  name  meaning 
"the  place  of  the  butterflies"  and  was  so  called  on  account  of  the  vast 
number  of  butterflies  that  gathered  about  the  mill  and  pond  which  was 
built  by  the  Rev.  Henry  II.  Spalding  {q.  v.)  when  he  established  his 
mission  there  in  1836. 


86  IDAHO    NOMENCLATURE 

LATAH,  Benewah  County. — This  is  a  Nez  Perce  Indian  name  given  to  a 
place  near  Desmet  (q.  v.)  where,  in  olden  times,  they  found  some  kind 
of  stone  out  of  which  they  made  pestles  with  which  to  pound  and  smash 
roots.  These  they  called  "Tah-ol,"  and  at  this  same  place  were  large 
pine  trees  called  "La-kah."  By  eliminating  the  last  syllable  in  each 
word  is  made  "La-tah,"  meaning  "pine  and  pestle  place." 

LAWYER'S  CANYON,  Nez  Perce  County. — This  beautiful  canyon  was  named 
for  Chief  Lawyer  of  the  Nez  Perces,  who  was  born  about  1800  and 
reared  in  its  vicinity.  He  was  the  son  of  Chief  Twisted-hair,  the  friend 
of  Lewis  and  Clark.  He  journeyed  with  Reverend  Parker  (q.  v.)  from 
Green  River  to  Clearwater.  Having  traveled  considerable  he  possessed 
some  education  and  knowledge  and  was  considered  the  best  posted 
Indian  in  the  entire  Northwest  and  it  was  by  reason  of  his  shrewdness 
and  diplomacy  that  the  white  people  gave  him  his  name  of  "Lawyer." 
He  was  always  friendly  to  the  whites  and  is  responsible,  more  than  any 
one,  for  the  defeat  of  the  great  confederacy  of  western  tribes  formed  by 
Kamiakan  (q.  v.)  at  the  Grande  Ronde  Council,  Oregon,  in  1854,  and 
it  was  his  firm  stand  with  the  whites  that  prevented  the  larger  part  of 
his  tribe,  or  Treaty  Indians,  from  joining  Chief  Joseph  {q.  v.)  in  the 
war  of  1877. 

LEESBURG,  Lemhi  County. — This  was  a  placer  gold  mining  camp  dis- 
covered by  a  party  of  prospectors  led  by  Frank  B.  Sharkey  of  Elk 
Creek,  Montana,  in  July,  1866,  on  a  small  stream  called  Napias  Creek 
(q.  v.).  The  stampede  into  the  country  was  made,  mostly,  by  soldiers 
from  the  Civil  War  and  a  rivalry  arose  among  them  as  to  the  naming 
of  the  town,  which  was  settled  by  having  a  Leesburg  and  a  Grantsville, 
named  respectively  for  Generals  Lee  and  Grant.  The  streets  of  the 
town  were  continuous  and  before  long  Grantsville  lost  its  identity  and 
the  place  became  known  as  Leesburg,  which  at  one  time  had  a  popula- 
tion of  7,000  people  and  was  at  first  supplied  from  Fort  Benton,  Mon- 
tana, and  later  from  Corrine,  Utah.  The  camp  is  practically  abandoned 
at  present. — REES,  History  of  Lemhi  County. 

LEMHIS. — At  the  time  Lewis  and  Clark  visited  the  Lemhi  country  in  1805 
there  were  about  five  hundred  Shoshonis  then  occupying  the  land  under 
Chief  Cameahwait  (q.  v.).  In  1855  the  Mormons  found  the  country 
still  inhabited  by  Shoshonis  under  Chief  Snagg  {q.  v.)  together  with 
some  roving  Bannacks  (q.  v.),  but  the  gold  miners  of  1866  found  a 
mixed  tribe  which  was  composed  of  Shoshonis,  Tukuarikas  and  Ban- 
nacks who  had  gathered  into  one  congregation  and  had  selected  Tendoy 
( q.  v.)  their  chief,  and  as  they  did  not  constitute  a  separate  tribe,  they 
became  known  as  Tendoy's  band.  After  becoming  settled  on  the  Lemhi 
Indian  reservation  (q.  v.)  in  Lemhi  Valley  in  1875,  where  they  inter- 
married, they  soon  coalesced  into  a  tribe  now  called  the  "Lemhis,"  and 
so  extensively  did  they  intermarry  that  in  1900,  excepting  some  old  peo- 
ple, there  were  no  full-blood  Shoshonis,  Tukuarikas  or  Bannacks  among 
them,  so  they  were  enumerated,  in  the  census,  as  a  single  tribe.  In 
1905  they  gave  up  the  Lemhi  Reserve  and  were,  later,  removed  to  Fort 


IDAHO    NOMENCLATURE  87 

Hall  Reservation  (q.  v.),  numbering  at  the  time  474  souls. — REES, 
History  of  Lemhi  County. 

LEMHI  INDIAN  RESERVATION,  Lemhi  County.— The  predominating 
element  of  the  Lemhis  was  Shoshoni  of  the  western  band  and  when 
treaties  were  made  with  these  tribes  in  1868  one  was  also  made  with 
the  Lemhis,  in  which  the  Indians  agreed  to  cede  all  their  claim  to  the 
lands  of  the  Lemhi  country  outside  of  a  reserve  therein  described  as 
commencing  at  a  point  of  rocks  on  the  north  fork  of  Salmon  River 
(Lemhi),  twelve  miles  above  Fort  Lemhi  (q.  v.)  and  containing  two 
townships  of  land,  but  the  government  failed  to  ratify  the  treaty.  In 
1875  President  Grant,  by  executive  order,  set  aside  a  reservation  for 
them  as  follows:  Commencing  at  a  point  on  the  Lemhi  River  that  is 
due  west  of  a  point  one  mile  clue  south  of  Fort  Lemhi ;  thence  due  east 
to  the  crest  of  the  mountain ;  thence  with  said  mountain  in  a  southerlv 
direction  about  twelve  miles  to  a  point  due  east  of  Yearian  bridge  on 
Lemhi  River  (at  Lemhi)  ;  thence  west  across  said  bridge  and  Lemhi 
River  to  the  crest  of  the  mountain  on  the  west  side  of  the  river ;  thence 
with  said  mountain  in  a  northerly  direction  to  a  point  due  west  of  the 
place  of  beginning;  thence  due  east  to  the  place  of  beginning,  which 
when  surveyed  contained  160  square  miles.  In  1880  the  chief  and  head 
men  of  the  tribe  entered  into  a  treaty  with  the  government  to  relinquish 
the  Lemhi  Reserve  and  take  lands  in  severalty  on  the  Fort  Hall  Reser- 
vation, but  one  provision  of  the  treaty  was  that  it  should  not  take 
effect  until  it  had  been  accepted  by  a  majority  of  all  the  adult  males 
of  the  tribe,  which  was  not  accomplished  until  December  28,  1905.  The 
provisions  of  this  treaty  were  that  the  Lemhis  should  receive  $4,000 
per  year  for  20  years  and  160  acres  each  of  farming  and  grazing  lands 
to  each  head  of  family  and  80  acres  each  of  farming  and  grazing 
lands  to  all  others  not  head  of  family,  and  the  Fort  Hall  Indians  were 
to  receive  $6,000  per  year  for  20  years  for  the  lands  which  they  yielded 
to  the  Lemhis.  The  Lemhis  abandoned  the  Lemhi  Reserve  in  1907. — 
Indian  Land  Cessions. 

LEMHI  PASS,  Lemhi  County. — Lewis  and  Clark  crossed  the  Rocky  Mountain 
Chain  seven  times  at  six  distinct  places,  crossing  one  pass  twice.  Of 
these  six  passes  three  were  of  the  main  range,  the  others  of  concomitant 
ranges  on  either  side  of  it,  and  more  or  less  parallel  to  the  main  range. 
In  their  order  of  succession  and  with  the  names  in  current  use  these 
passes  were :  The  Lemhi,  an  unnamed  pass  of  the  Bitterroot  Range  at  the 
southwest  angle  where  that  range  joins  the  main  Rockies;  the  Lolo  pass 
of  the  Bitterroot  Range;  Gibbon's  pass  of  the  Rockies,  near  the  un- 
named pass  mentioned;  the  Lewis  and  Clark  pass  of  the  main  range  at 
the  head  of  Dearborn's  River;  and  the  Bozeman  pass  between  tin1 
Bridger  and  Gallatin  ranges  east  of  Bozeman,  Montana.  Of  all  of 
these  passes  there  were  but  three  that  Lewis  and  Clark  both  crossed 
and  the  only  one  across  the  main  range  that  both  of  them  saw  and 
used  was  the  first  one — the  so-called  Lemhi  pass.  This  pass,  therefore, 
should  have  been  called  and  should,  if  possible,  even  yet  be  named  the 
Leiois  and  Clark  pass.    The  one  now  known  by  that  name  Clark  never 


88  IDAHO    NOMENCLATURE 

saw,  and  the  Gibbon's  pass,  which  Lewis  never  saw,  should  by  all  rules 
be  known  as  Clark's  pass,  not  Gibbon's,  General  Gibbon  having  crossed 
it  seventy-one  years  after  Clark. — WHEELER,  Trail  of  Lewis  and 
Clark. 

LEWIS  RIVER,  Lemhi  County.— This  is  the  name  which  Captain  Clark 
gave  to  the  Salmon  River  {q.  v.)  on  August  21,  1805,  when  he  arrived 
at  the  junction  of  the  Lemhi  and  Salmon  rivers,  near  where  Salmon 
City  now  stands.  He  said:  "The  western  branch  of  this  river  (main 
Salmon )  is  much  larger  than  the  eastern  ( Lemhi ) .  As  Captain  Lewis 
was  the  first  white  man  who  visited  its  waters,  Captain  Clark  gave  it 
the  name  of  Lewis  River."  When  the  expedition  arrived  at  the  forks  of 
the  Snake  and  Clearwater  rivers  on  October  10,  1805,  they  said:  "The 
southern  branch  (Snake  River)  is  in  fact  the  main  stream  of  Lewis 
River,  on  which  we  encamped  while  among  the  Shoshones"  ( Lemhi ) , 
showing  that  Captains  Lewis  and  Clark  referred  to  the  Salmon  River 
and  that  they  knew  nothing  about  the  upper  Snake  River.  Cartog- 
raphers have  undertaken  to  attach  the  name  "Lewis  Fork"  to  the 
Snake  River  but  the  name  failed  to  become  permanent  and  the  worthy 
explorer  has  been  cheated  of  his  just  deserts.  The  name  of  Lewis  for 
Salmon  River  was  the  first  name  given  by  the  first  explorers  and  their 
rights  in  the  matter  should  never  have  been  ignored. — WHEELER, 
Trail  of  Lewis  and  Clark. 

LEWIS  AND  CLARK  TRAIL.— These  explorers  followed  the  old  "time  out 
of  mind"  Indian  trails  from  the  three  forks  of  the  Missouri  to  the  two 
forks  of  the  Clearwater,  excepting  at  the  head  of  the  north  fork  of  the 
Salmon  River  where  they  made  the  trail  as  they  proceeded.  Why  they 
went  so  far  north  as  the  Lolo  pass  instead  of  crossing  the  Nez  Perce 
pass  (q.  v.)  is  due,  no  doubt,  to  the  lack  of  knowledge  on  the  part  of 
their  Shoshoni  guide  Toby.  The  party  consisted  of  Capt.  Meriwether 
Lewis,  Lieut.  William  Clark,  nine  young  men  from  Kentucky,  fourteen 
soldiers  from  the  United  States  Army,  two  French  watermen,  one 
hunter,  one  interpreter,  one  black  servant,  the  interpreter's  wife  and 
child,  making  a  total  of  thirty-two  persons.  They  left  Three  Forks 
July  30,  1805J  proceeding  up  the  Beaverhead  River  to  its  source,  which 
is  at  the  junction  of  Horse  Prairie  and  Redrock  creeks ;  up  Horse 
Prairie  and  Trail  creeks  to  the  Continental  Divide  of  the  Rocky 
Mountains  at  Lemhi  pass  (q.  v.),  crossing  over  on  August  12,  1805, 
on  to  Agency  Creek  (q.  v.)  and  thence  down  to  the  Lemhi  River  in 
the  vicinity  of  Fort  Lemhi  (q.  v.)  ;  thence  down  the  Lemhi  to  its 
junction  with  the  Salmon  River  near  where  Salmon  City  now  stands 
and  thence  down  the  Salmon  to  Tower  Creek  (q.  v. )  ;  up  Tower  Creek 
about  four  miles,  thence  northward  along  the  foot  of  the  mountains  to 
Fish  Creek  (q.  v.)  ;  thence  up  Fish  Creek,  now  called  the  North  Fork, 
where  they  crossed  the  divide  of  the  Bitterroot  Mountains  September 
4,  on  to  Camp  Creek,  down  which  they  passed  to  the  east  fork  of  the 
Bitterroot  River;  thence  through  Ross'  hole  and  down  the  Bitterroot 
River  to  Lolo  Creek  {q.  v.),  up  which  they  passed  and  over  the  Bitter- 
root Mountains  on  to  Glade  Creek   {q.  v.)  ;  thence  down  the  dividing 


IDAHO    NOMENCLATURE  89 

ridge  between  the  Northfork  and  the  Middlefork  of  the  Clearwater  to 
the  Lolo  Creek  that  flows  into  the  Clearwater ;  thence  down  to  the 
junction  of  the  Northfork  and  the  Southfork  of  the  Clearwater,  at  a 
place  they  called  Canoe  camp.  After  constructing  five  canoes  they 
drifted  down  the  Clearwater  to  the  Snake  River  and  on  to  the  Columbia, 
which  they  reached  on  October  16,  1805. 

LEWISTON,  Nez  Perce  County.— It  was  Vick  Trivit  in  June,  1861,  who 
named  the  city  at  the  forks  of  the  river  "Lewiston."  The  way  he  came 
to  name  it  Lewiston  was  when  there  were  five  or  six  of  us  sitting  on 
a  log  near  where  Trivit  had  a  tent,  which  was  at  the  junction  of  the 
Snake  and  Clearwater  rivers.  Several  names  were  suggested  by  our 
party  for  the  town  to  be  built  here  and  Silcot  wanted  to  name  it  after 
some  Indian  chief.  During  our  talk  about  the  matter  Trivit  came  out 
of  the  tent  and  said :  "Gentlemen,  why  not  name  this  place  Lewiston, 
after  Lewis  and  Clark?",  and  the  suggestion  was  accepted  at  once  by 
us.  What  is  now  called  Snake  River  Avenue  was  first  known  as 
Clarksville. — BEALL,  Idaho  Librarian  Report,  1915-16. 

LIHMI. — This  name  is  taken  from  a  character  in  the  Book  of  Mormon. 
In  586  B.  C.  when  Zedekiah  was  king  of  Israel  Nebuchadnezzar  de- 
stroyed Jerusalem  and  carried  its  inhabitants  captives  to  Babylon. 
Lehi,  with  his  family  of  married  sons,  escaped  from  the  city  and 
after  wandering  in  the  wilderness  for  eight  years,  built  a  boat  in  wrhich 
they  left  the  coast  of  Asia  and  landed  in  Chili,  South  America.  Here 
they  multiplied  until  Lehi  died,  after  which  his  descendants  divided 
into  two  nations,  the  Nephites  and  the  Lamanites,  so  named  after 
Nephi  and  Laman,  two  sons  of  Lehi.  The  Nephites  were  the  beloved 
of  the  Lord,  and  being  endowed  with  visions  and  gifts  of  prophecy, 
made  advances  in  civilization,  whilst  the  Lamanites  lapsed  into  bar- 
barism and  for  their  wickedness  were  turned  to  a  darker  color  by  the 
Lord,  and  became  the  progenitors  of  the  American  Indians.  There 
was  continual  strife  between  the  two  factions  in  which  the  Lamanited 
succeeded  in  driving  the  Nephites  out  of  Chili  into  Ecquador,  which 
country  was  called  Nephi.  The  Lamanites  still  followed  them  and 
eventually  drove  most  of  them  from  Nephi  on  to  the  Magdalena  River 
in  the  United  States  of  Columbia,  which  place  was  called  Zarahemla. 
The  Nephites  that  remained  in  Nephi  wrere  commanded  by  King  Limhi, 
who  eventually  led  them  from  Nephi  to  Zerahemla,  a  journey  which 
required  ticenty-tico  days  to  make.  The  Nephites  kept  retreating  and  the 
Lamanites  continued  to  follow  up,  and  after  another  continental  migra- 
tion the  Lamanites  succeeded  in  cornering  all  the  Nephites  at  Cumorah 
Hill  in  the  State  of  New  York,  where  they  slaughtered  the  entire 
nation.  Mormon,  however,  before  passing  away  succeeded  in  writing 
the  record  of  their  history  and  religion  upon  some  brass  plates  which 
Moroni,  his  son,  buried  in  the  hill.  Joseph  Smith,  under  the  direction 
of  the  angel  Moroni,  discovered  these  plates  in  1827,  whereupon  he 
translated  and  published  the  Book  of  Mormon  and  founded  the  Mor- 
mon Church  which  after  many  vicissitudes  located  in  Salt  Lake  City, 
Utah,  in  1848  under  the  leadership  of  Brigham  Young.    In  the  spring 


90  IDAHO    NOMENCLATURE 

4 

of  1855  a  number  of  brethren  were  called  to  establish  a  mission  on 
Salmon  River  among  the  northern  Indians  to  do  missionary  work 
among  the  Lamanites.  About  thirty  persons  with  ox  teams  left  Bear 
River,  Utah,  under  the  command  of  Elder  Thomas  S.  Smith  on  May  24, 
1855,  and  on  June  14th  reached  the  Lemhi  River  being  twenty-two  days 
in  making  the  journey,  and  so  similar  in  many  respects  to  the  exploits 
of  King  Limhi  was  their  journey  thither  that  they  named  their  fortifi- 
cation for  him.  "Behold,  I  am  Limhi,  the  son  of  Noah,  who  was  the  son 
of  Zeniff,  who  came  up  out  of  the  land  of  Zarahemla  to  inherit  this 
land,  which  was  the  land  of  their  fathers,  who  was  made  a  king  by 
the  voice  of  the  people."  Mos.  1:9.  The  word  became  corrupted  to 
Lemhi  ( q.  v.) ,  and  gave  the  name  to  a  fort,  river,  county,  mountain 
pass,  tribe  of  Indians,  an  Indian  Reservation,  range  of  mountains, 
forest  reserve  and  postoffice. — Book  of  Mormon. 

LOLO  PASS  AND  CREEK,  Clearwater  County. — In  very  early  days  an 
old  half-breed  hunter  and  trapper  by  the  name  of  Lawrence  lived 
among  the  Flathead  Indians  and  after  his  death  was  buried  on  Lolo 
Creek,  Montana.  The  creek  was  named  by  the  Indians  for  him,  but  as 
there  is  no  r  in  the  Flathead  vocabulary  "Loulou"  was  as  near  as 
they  could  come  in  pronouncing  the  name  Lawrence,  which  the 
United  States  Geographic  Board  has  spelled  Lolo.  This  stream 
Hows  into  the  Bitterroot  and  was  called  Traveler's  Rest  Creek  by  Lewis 
and  Clark.  The  pass  at  the  head  of  this  creek,  which  lies  between  the 
Clearwater  and  the  Bitterroot  rivers,  is  called  Lolo  pass  and  also  a 
small  stream  flowing  into  the  Clearwater  is  named  Lolo  Creek,  but 
originally  called  by  Lewis  and  Clark  Collins  Creek  (q.  v.).  The  Nez 
Perce  Indians  crossed  thru  this  pass  in  1877  while  being  pursued  by 
Gen.  0.  0.  Howard.— WHEELER,  Trail  of  Leans  and  Clark. 

LOST  RIVER,  Butte  County. — Named  from  the  peculiar  characteristic  of 
sinking  in  the  lava  plains.  Between  Henry's  Fork  and  Boise  River 
there  is  not  a  single  perennial  stream  flowing  into  Snake  River  from 
the  north  altho  the  mountains  in  that  region  receive  a  large  amount 
of  precipitation.  The  principal  reason  for  the  absence  of  surface 
tributaries  to  the  Snake  on  the  north  is  that  broad  lava  plains 
intervene  between  it  and  the  mountains  and  all  the  water  which 
flows  down  to  the  plains  or  falls  on  their  surface  is  either  evaporated 
or  lost  in  the  cellular  and  fissured  lava,  and  after  passing  thru  the 
underlying  rocks  join  in  an  underflow  which  eventually  emerges  in  the 
Snake  River  Canyon,  as  immense  springs.  There  are  three  streams 
that  become  lost  in  this  manner,  namely:  Big  Lost,  Little  Lost  and 
Brich  Creek,  all  disappearing  in  the  same  basin  called  the  "Sinks," 
where  during  high  water  their  contents  commingle. — RUSSELL,  Snake 
River  Plains. 

MAD  RIVER,  Bonneville  County. — One  branch  of  Snake  River  {q.  v.)  is 
called  the  North  Fork  or  Henry's  Fork  (q.  v.),  rising  in  Henry's  Lake 
{q.  v.)  and  the  other  branch  is  called  the  South  Fork  of  Snake  River, 
rising  in  Shoshone  Lake  (q.  v.).  The  Hunt-Astoria  party  (q.  v.) 
reached  the  South  Fork  near  the  Grand  Canyon  of  the  Snake,  a  very 


IDAHO    NOMENCLATURE  91 

broken  country  with  rocky  promontories,  deep  denies  and  wild  rushing 
waters  below,  which  becoming  impatient  of  restraint  would  seem  to 
dash  the  very  mountains  asunder  in  spasms  of  wrath,  and  was  therefore 
called  by  them  the  "mad  river."— BA  N CROFT,  History  of  Washing- 
ton, Idaho  and  Montana. 

MAGRUDER  MOUNT  AND  CREEK,  Idaho  County.— These  were  named 
for  Lloyd  Magruder  who  with  his  party,  consisting  of  Charles  Allen, 
William  Phillips,  Horace  and  Robert  Chalmers,  were  murdered  near 
these  points  by  David  Howard,  Christopher  Lowrey,  James  P.  Romain 
and  William  Page,  road  agents,  on  October  1G,  1863.  The  party  was 
traveling  from  Bannack,  Montana,  to  Lewiston,  Idaho,  with  a  pack 
train  over  the  Nez  Perce  trail  (q.  v.)  carrying  some  $30,000  of  gold 
dust.  They  camped  near  a  spring  which  has  since  dried  up,  that  was 
in  Nez  Perce  pass  (q.  v.)  on  the  Idaho  side  and  drained  into  Magruder 
Creek.  This  was  one  of  the  most  dastardly  and  foul  murders  ever 
committed.  The  trial  and  hanging  of  the  perpetrators  being  the  first 
of  the  kind  within  Idaho  Territory.  The  name  is  spelled  McGruder 
on  most  maps,  which  is  wrong. — LANGFORD,  Vigilante  Days  and 
Ways. 

MALADE  RIVER,  Gooding  County. — This  river  was  named  by  Donald 
Mackenzie  in  1819  because  his  men  were  made  sick  on  this  stream  by 
eating  beaver,  "malade"  in  French  meaning  "sick."  Alexander  Ross 
reported  a  similar  experience  in  1824  when  all  those  who  had  break- 
fasted on  the  fresh  beaver  taken  out  of  the  river  were  affected  and  they 
supposed  the  animals  must  have  lived  on  some  root  of  a  poisonous 
quality.  From  that  incident  he  named  the  stream  Riviere  aux  Malades. 
In  1830  John  Work  related  the  same  experience  with  his  party  of 
trappers  and  said  that  the  beaver  fed  on  roots  which  he  thot  was 
hemlock,  poisoning  the  flesh,  and  he  called  the  stream  "Sickly"  River. 
A  reed  called  water  hemlock  of  the  parsley  family  grows  in  moist 
ground  in  many  places  in  Idaho,  the  root  of  which  is  very  poisonous, 
especially  to  cattle.  The  emigrants  of  1862,  from  the  immense  growth 
of  poplar  trees  along  their  banks,  called  the  streams  Big  and  Little 
Wood  rivers,  which  unite  near  Gooding,  from  whence  the  river  still 
maintains  its  name  Malade,  until  it  flows  into  Snake  River. — Oregon 
Historical  Quarterly. 

MARKET  LAKE,  Jefferson  County. — It  would  seem  that  in  years  past  the 
bed  of  this  lake  was  an  immense  prairie  bottom  or  basin  and  a  favorite 
resort  for  game  of  all  kinds;  even,  indeed,  the  buffalo  have  been 
killed  in  and  near  it  in  large  numbers,  the  evidence  of  which  was 
shown  by  the  skulls  of  the  animals  found  near  the  present  border  of 
the  lake.  So  abundant,  indeed,  was  the  game  here  that  the  trappers 
and  mountain  men  of  that  day  who  in  squads  and  bands  trapped  and 
hunted  in  the  wilderness  of  mountains,  always  said  to  each  other  when 
their  supply  of  subsistence  grew  scanty,  "Let  us  go  to  the  market," 
referring  to  this  resort  of  the  herds  of  game,  and  they  never  visited  it 
in  vain  until,  by  one  of  those  strange  freaks  of  nature  in  this  valley  of 
the  Snake  River,  which  is  fed  at  many  points  thruout  its  length  by 


92  IDAHO    NOMENCLATURE 

subterranean  streams,  this  market  was  converted  into  an  immense 
sheet  of  water.  It  is  only  accounted  for  by  supposing  that  the  streams 
making  down  from  the  Snake  River  Mountains  and  losing  themselves 
in  the  sand  or  sage  desert  of  the  valley  break  forth  or  near  the  latter, 
which  is  thus  fed  from  year  to  year  by  the  meltings  of  the  snows  and 
the  rains  from  these  mountains.  In  order,  therefore,  to  retain  and 
hand  down  the  name  of  this  once  favorable  resort,  and  the  legend 
connected  with  it,  Lieut.  John  Mullan,  of  the  Mullan  Military  Road 
(q.  v.),  named  this  sheet  of  water  the  "Market  Lake."  It  is  now 
entirely  dry  and  its  bed  is  being  cultivated.  A  town  near  by  was  called 
Market  Lake  but  is  now  changed  to  Roberts,  named  for  a  division 
superintendent  of  the  Oregon  Short  Line  Railroad. — STEVENS,  Nar- 
rative. 

MEDICINE  LODGE  CREEK,  Fremont  County.— This  name  is  derived 
from  the  Indian  sweat-house,  called  the  "medicine  lodge,"  and  was 
applied  to  this  stream  by  the  early  settlers  because  of  some  sweat- 
houses  found  thereon.  In  1820  it  was  called  "Cote's  Defile"  for  a 
Canadian  Frenchman  of  Donald  Mackenzie's  party  of  Hudson  Bay 
trappers.  The  Shoshoni  word  "Nat-soo,"  meaning  "medicine,"  conveys 
the  thot  of  the  supernatural  and  with  the  Indian  might  relate  to 
a  mystery,  luck,  spirit,  vision,  dream  or  prophecy  or  to  the  obscure 
forces  of  nature  that  work  either  for  good  or  evil.  At  first  some  shrewd 
Indian  took  advantage  of  this  prevailing  idea  of  the  tribe  and  laid 
claim  to  visions,  then  to  prophecies  and  the  power  of  propitiating 
natural  forces  and  at  last  to  recognizing  and  removing  the  causes  of 
diseases.  This  latter  claim  gave  him  the  appellation  of  "Medicine- 
man" and  his  practice  that  of  "medicine,"  but  the  Indian  thot  referred 
not  only  to  curative  but  to  supernatural  and  mysterious  powers  as 
well.  The  Indian  lived  close  to  nature  and  was  inspired  and  awed 
by  her  wonders  and  mysteries  and  anything  which  was  beyond  his 
comprehension  was  "nat-soo,"  or  "medicine."  Originally  the  medicine- 
man was  a  self-constituted  physician  and  prophet  or  "Nat-soo  gant" 
and  as  no  man  gave  him  his  authority,  no  man  could  take  it  away. 
His  influence  depended  upon  himself  and  if  he  made  a  serious  mistake 
he  was  considered  a  sorcerer,  the  penalty  for  which  was  death.  The 
regular  medicine-man,  however,  that  practiced  the  healing  art  only, 
had  some  very  good  roots,  herbs  and  methods  which  he  used  and  did 
not  rely  entirely  upon  jugglery  and  superstition.  Among  their  most 
efficacious  remedies  was  the  sweat-house  or  "medicine-lodge"  which 
was  a  universal  Indian  practice  and  the  small  oval  lodge  near  the 
creek  bank  was  a  fixture  in  all  Indian  camps. — CLARK,  Indian  Sign 
Language. 

MISNOMERS. — In  the  early  '30s  W.  A.  Ferris  wrote:  Several  tribes 
of  mountain  Indians  have  names  that  are  supposed  to  be  descriptive 
of  some  national  peculiarity.  Among  these  are  the  Siksika  (Black- 
feet),  Tete  Plats  (Flatheads),  Nez  Perces  (Pierced  Nose),  Pend 
Oreilles  (Ear  Bobs),  Coeur  d'Alenes  (Pointed  Hearts)  and  Gros- 
ventres  (Big  Bellies).   It  is  a  fact  that  of  these  the  Blackfeet  have  the 


IDAHO    NOMENCLATURE  93 

whitest  feet;  there  is  not  among  the  Flatheads  a  deformed  head;  there 
is  not  among  the  Nez  Perces  an  individual  having  any  part  of  the  nose 
perforated;  nor  do  any  of  the  Pend  Oreilles  wear  ornaments  in  their 
ears;  nothing  is  unusual  with  the  heart  of  the  Coeur  d'Alene;  and, 
finally,  the  Grosventres  are  as  slim  as  any  other  Indians,  and  cor- 
pulency among  them  is  rare.  These  are  fanciful  names  given  by  French 
Canadian  trappers  for  some  isolated  peculiarity. — FERRIS,  Life  in 
the  Rocky  Mountains. 

MISSION  AND  MISSIONARIES.— Captains  Lewis  and  Clark  endeavored 
to  explain  to  the  Indian  tribes  whom  they  visited  some  of  the  funda- 
mentals of  religion.  The  Flatheads  and  Nez  Perces  were  the  most 
religiously  inclined  of  all  western  Indians,  and  in  18 10  and  1820 
Iroquois  trappers  of  the  Jesuit  faith  were  teaching  their  tenets  to 
them,  they  being  quite  eager  to  learn.  These  Indians  became  interested 
in  the  Scriptures  and  anxious  for  teachers  to  instruct  them.  Some 
time  about  1832  a  deputation,  consisting  of  four  chiefs  from  both 
tribes,  was  sent  to  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  to  consult  with  Capt.  William 
Clark,  of  the  Lewis  and  Clark  expedition,  who  was  then  agent  of  all 
western  tribes.  They  asked  him  for  "Black  Robes"  to  teach  them  the 
precepts  of  the  Bible.  The  chiefs  met  with  considerable  experience, 
but  one  only  ever  returned  home;  however,  the  object  of  their  visit 
soon  spread  and  it  became  known  that  missionaries  were  wanted  in 
the  West.  In  1834  the  Methodists  sent  Rev.  Jason  Lee  to  the  Wil- 
lamette Valley;  in  1830  the  Presbyterians  sent  Dr.  Marcus  Whitman 
and  Rev.  Henry  H.  Spalding  to  the  Columbia  River;  in  1S40  the 
Catholics  sent  Father  P.  J.  De  Smet  to  the  Bitterroot  Valley;  and  in 
1855  the  Mormons  sent  Elder  Thomas  S.  Smith  to  the  Lemhi  Valley. — 
CHITTENDEN,  American  Fur  Trade. 

MOTHER  LODE.— Since  the  discovery  of  paying  gold  in  Idaho  in  18G0 
the  opinion  had  been  expressed,  repeatedly,  that  somewhere  in  the 
state  a  rich  central  deposit  existed.  This  was  the  stimulus  that  led 
to  many  discoveries.  The  source  of  the  state's  metallic  mineral 
deposit  is  the  great  central  granite  mass  that  occupies  three-fourths  of 
the  state.  During  the  Cretaceous  period,  some  15,000,000  years  ago, 
the  convective  forces  of  the  earth  erupted  a  granite  batholith  in  cen- 
tral Idaho  resulting  in  the  forming  of  Payette  Lake  (q.  v.)  and  Sal- 
mon Lake  {q.  v.).  The  mean  elevation  of  this  upheaval  was  10,000 
feet  higher  than  the  present  surface,  which  elevation  has  since  been 
denuded  and  the  vast  erosion  of  this  rock  formation  with  its  contained 
ore  deposits  has  resulted  in  the  prominent  source  of  placer  gold,  while 
the  lateral  metamorphosed  sediments  and  intrusive  lavas  of  this 
granite  formation  has  resulted  in  extensive  ore  veins  and  deposits. — 
ANNUAL  REPORT,  Mining  Industry  of  Idaho. 

MOUNTAIN  HOME,  Elmore  County.— This  is  the  name  given,  in  early 
days,  to  a  stage  station  on  the  Boise-Salt  Lake  Stage  Route,  which 
contained  a  hotel,  stopping  place  and  postoffice.  From  its  snug  and 
cosy  situation  near  the  mountains  it  was  called  the  ''Mountain  Home." 
When   the    Oregon    Short    Line   Railroad    was    completed    in    1883    the 


94  IDAHO    NOMENCLATURE 

station  and  postoffice  were  moved  eight  miles  southwest  to  the  railroad 
where  a  town  retaining  the  same  name  now  flourishes. 

MULLAN  MILITARY  ROAD.— This  road  extended  from  Fort  Benton, 
Montana,  at  the  head  of  steamboat  navigation  on  the  Missouri  to 
Fort  Walla  Walla,  Washington,  then  the  head  of  steamboat  navigation 
on  the  Columbia  River,  a  distance  of  624  miles.  The  object  was  to 
build  a  northern  and  more  direct  route  for  immigration  into  the 
Northwest  and  a  northern  transcontinental  route  free  from  the  slave 
power  of  the  south  and  was  built  by  the  Government  at  an  expense  of 
$230,000.  It  was  begun  in  1855  by  Gov.  Isaac  I.  Stevens  and  com- 
pleted in  I860  by  Captain  John  Mullan,  the  principal  actor  in  its 
location  and  construction.  The  first  route  passed  south  of  Coeur  d'Alene 
Lake  (q.  v.),  but  in  1861  this  section  was  changed  to  the  north  shore. 
A  portion  of  it  now  occupies  Sherman  Street  in  the  city  of  Coeur 
d'Alene.  The  Northern  Pacific  Railroad  follows  this  old  military  road. 
— HULLAN,  Construction  of  a  Military  Road. 

NAMPA,  Canyon  County. — This  is  a  Shoshoni  word  meaning  "Namp," 
"foot"  and  "puh"  an  expression  denoting  a  "bigness,"  and  refers  to 
Chief  Bigfoot  who  was  war  chief  Nampah  of  the  Wihinast  which  was 
that  branch  of  the  Shoshonis  that  lived  along  the  Boise  River  ( q.  v.) . 
These  Indians  were  known  for  their  large  chiefs.  Donald  Mackenzie 
states  that  in  1822  these  Indians  were  governed  by  Chief  Pee-eye-em 
and  a  sub-chief,  who  were  brothers,  and  both  fine  looking  men;  the 
former  was  six  feet  two  inches  high,  the  latter  about  six  feet,  and  both 
stout  in  proportion.  Mackenzie  himself,  the  stoutest  of  the  whites, 
was  a  corpulent,  heavy  man,  weighing  312  pounds;  yet  he  was  nothing 
to  be  compared,  either  in  size  or  weight,  to  this  Indian  chief.  His 
waistcoat  was  too  narrow  by  fourteen  inches  to  button  around  Pee- 
eye-em.  Alexander  Ross  in  1824  said  this  chief  was  the  great  sachem, 
so  frequently  and  favorably  mentioned  by  his  friends  on  former  expedi- 
tions. Both  himself  and  his  escort  were  as  fine  a  set  of  athletic  men 
as  he  had  ever  seen  in  the  country.  Chief  Nampuh  was  descended  from 
this  race  of  chieftains.  He  was  reputed  to  have  a  foot  seventeen  and  one- 
half  inches  long  and  six  inches  wide  and  was  the  hereditary  chief  of 
the  Wihinast.  He  was  a  bold  and  skillful  leader,  but  given  to  thievery, 
horse  stealing  and  murder,  which  embroiled  him  and  his  tribe  in  the 
Indian  War  of  1863.  He  was  killed  by  the  highwayman  Wheeler  in 
1868  during  a  personal  encounter.  Pee-eye-em  is  a  Shoshoni  word 
meaning  "Pee-ah,"  "large"  and  "nim,"  "Indian"  or  "Big  Indian." 
The  Wihinast  were  put  upon  the  Fort  Hall  Indian  Reservation  {q.  v.) 
at  the  time  it  was  formed  in  1869. — BOSS,  Fur  Hunters. 

NAPIAS  CREEK,  Lemhi  County. — This  is  a  Shoshoni  Indian  word  which 
the  discoverers  gave  to  the  creek  on  which  they  discovered  placer  gold 
in  1866  at  Leesburg  {q.  v.)  and  means  "money."  The  way  it  came  to 
be  applied  is  related  by  Frank  B.  Sharkey,  the  leader  of  the  discovery 
party.  The  next  day  after  the  strike  thirty-eight  buck  Indians  came  to 
his  camp,  having  followed  the  trail  traveled  by  his  party  from  the 
find  in  Leesburg  basin  to  the  Salmon  River    The  chief  asked  Sharkey 


IDAHO    NOMENCLATURE  95 

if  their  party  had  found  any  "napias."  Sharkey  answered  "no."  The 
chief  said  "ish-ump"  (you  lie).  He  then  told  Sharkey  how  he  had 
taken  some  of  the  dirt  from  one  of  the  prospect  holes  and  washing  it 
in  the  creek  had  found  "napias."  Knowing  how  alluring  gold  is  to  a 
prospector,  the  chief  told  Sharkey  that  this  country  was  no  good  for 
white  men  and  for  him  to  get  right  away  and  be  sure  and  stay  out, 
but  in  a  day  or  so  the  rush  was  on  and  the  Indian's  protest  was  of  no 
avail. — REE 8,  History  of  Lemhi  County. 

NEZ  PERCE  INDIANS. — This  name  is  a  misnomer  and  has  been  tortured 
from  its  original  application.  "Nez  perce"  is  the  French  for  "Pierced 
nose,"  but  this  tribe,  so  far  as  known,  either  by  actual  observation  or 
by  tradition,  never  practiced  the  custom  of  piercing  the  nose  for  any 
purpose.  The  Nez  Perce  Indians  had,  by  nature,  a  flattened  or  com- 
pressed nose,  and  the  old  French  Canadian  trapper,  in  the  early  days, 
called  them  "Nez  presse"  which  means  a  "pressed"  or  "squeezed  nose," 
having  reference  to  this  flattened  condition.  The  primitive  sign  for 
this  tribe  is,  "with  the  thumb  and  index  finger  of  the  right  hand  seize 
the  cartilage  of  the  nose,"  which  also  referred  to  the  "compressed  nose." 
The  Indian  sign  for  "pierced  nose"  is  applied  alike,  not  only  to  the 
Nez  Perces,  but  to  the  Caddos  and  Shawnees  as  well.  These  Indians 
belonged  to  the  Shahaptan  family  {q.  v.)  and  called  themselves 
Chopunnish  ( q.  v.).  They  maintained  peaceful  relations  with  the 
whites  from  their  first  discovery  until  1877.  Lewis  and  Clark  were 
kindly  received  by  them  in  1805  and  Captain  Bonneville  was  cordially 
welcomed  in  1833.  In  1855  Governor  Stevens  concluded  a  liberal 
treaty  with  these  people,  giving  them  an  immense  tract  of  country 
for  a  reservation.  In  1863  the  encroachments  of  the  whites  made  it 
necessary  to  throw  open  a  portion  of  this  country  to  settlement.  This 
action  created  a  division  among  the  Indians ;  those  who  would  not 
agree  to  this  new  treaty  were  called  Non-treaty  Indians  {q.  v.)  and 
these  led  by  Chief  Joseph  {q.  v.)  made  the  outbreak  in  1877.  The 
Nez  Perce  men  were  generally  fine  looking,  robust  men,  with  aquiline 
features  and  came  nearer  representing  the  "noble  red  man"  of  fiction 
than  any  other  Indians,  while  their  women  were  often  masculine  in 
disposition  and  generally  "wore  the  breeches." — CLARK,  Indian  Sign 
Language. 

NEZ  PERCE  INDIAN  RESERVATION,  Nez  Perce  County— The  Nez 
Perces  claimed  approximately  all  Idaho  now  contained  in  Idaho,  Sel- 
way,  Clearwater,  Lewis,  Nez  Perce  and  Latah  counties;  Oregon,  in 
Wallowa,  Union  and  Baker  counties;  Washington,  in  Whitman,  Liar- 
field  and  Asotin  counties.  In  1855  Gov.  Isaac  I.  Stevens  and  Supt. 
Joel  Palmer  for  the  Government  and  the  chiefs  and  head-men  for  the 
tribe  made  a  treaty  at  Camp  Stevens,  Washington  Territory,  creating 
a  reservation  as  follows :  Commencing  where  the  Moh-ha-na-she  or 
southern  tributary  of  the  Palouse  River  flows  from  the  spurs  of  the 
Bitterroot  Mountains;  thence  down  said  tributary  to  Ti-nat-pan-up 
Creek;  thence  southerly  to  the  crossing  of  Snake  River,  ten  miles 
below  the  mouth  of  Al-po-wa-wi  River;  thence  to  the  source  of  Alpo- 


1 
96  IDAHO    NOMENCLATURE 

wawi  River,  in  the  Blue  Mountains;  thence  along  the  crest  of  the 
Blue  Mountains;  thence  to  the  crossing  of  the  Grande  Ronde  River, 
midway  between  Grande  Ronde  and  the  mouth  of  Woll-low-how  River; 
thence  along  the  divide  between  the  waters  of  Woll-low-how  and 
Powder  River;  thence  to  the  crossing  of  Snake  River,  fifteen  miles 
below  the  mouth  of  Powder  River ;  thence  to  Salmon  River  above  the 
crossing;  thence  by  the  spurs  of  the  Bitterroot  Mountains  to  the 
place  of  beginning.  In  18G3  a  new  treaty  was  made  relinquishing  the 
above  reserve  and  at  Council  Grounds  in  the  Lapwai  Valley  the  follow- 
ing tract  was  made  their  reservation :  Commencing  at  the  northeast 
corner  of  Lake  Wa-ha;  thence  northerly  to  a  point  on  the  north  bank 
of  Clearwater  River,  three  miles  below  the  mouth  of  Lapwai ;  thence 
down  the  north  bank  of  Clearwater  to  the  mouth  of  Hatwai  Creek; 
thence  due  north  to  a  point  seven  miles  distant;  thence  easterly  to  a 
point  on  the  north  fork  of  Clearwater,  seven  miles  from  its  mouth; 
thence  to  a  point  on  Oro  Fino  Creek,  five  miles  above  its  mouth ;  thence 
to  a  point  on  the  north  fork  of  the  south  fork  of  Clearwater,  five  miles 
above  its  mouth;  thence  to  a  point  on  south  fork  of  Clearwater,  one 
mile  above  the  bridge  on  the  road  leading  to  Elk  City  (so  as  to  include 
all  the  Indian  farms  now  within  the  forks)  ;  thence  in  a  straight  line 
westwardly  to  the  place  of  beginning.  In  1894  they  ceded,  sold,  relin- 
quished and  conveyed  all  their  unallotted  lands  to  the  United  States, 
reserving  numerous  sections  which  are  held  in  severalty  by  the  In- 
dians, the  surplus  being  sold  for  settlement  by  the  Government,  paying 
the  Nez  Perces  the  sum  of  $1,026,222.00,  thus  abolishing  the  reserva- 
tion.— Indian  Land  Cessions. 
NEZ  PERCE  RETREAT,  ITINERARY.— Gen.  0.  0.  Howard  defeated  the 
Nez  Perces  at  the  Battle  of  Clearwater  on  July  12,  1877,  which  battle- 
field lies  southeast  of  Kamiah  (q.  v.).  The  Indians  then  left  Idaho 
going  over  the  Lolo  trail  and  pass  {q.  v.),  evading  Captain  Rawn  who 
had  barricaded  the  canyon  along  the  Lolo  trail  in  Montana,  after  which 
they  emerged  into  the  Bitterroot  Valley.  They  then  traveled  up  the 
Bitterroot  River,  thru  Ross'  hole,  over  Gibbon's  pass  and  into  the 
Bighole,  where  on  August  9,  1877,  they  defeated  Colonel  Gibbon.  Con- 
tinuing they  passed  on  to  Horse  Prairie,  murdering  settlers  on  the  way 
and  thence  thru  the  Bannock  pass  back  into  Idaho  on  the  Lemhi  River 
which  they  followed  to  its  source  and  thence  on  to  Birch  Creek  where 
they  killed  some  freighters  and  destroyed  their  outfit.  They  followed 
down  Birch  Creek  until  they  struck  the  trail  going  east  to  Camas 
Creek  where  General  Howard  intercepted  them  by  a  cutoff,  but  had 
his  pack  mules  stolen  from  him  by  the  Indians  at  Camas  Meadows  on 
the  night  of  August  19th.  They  then  passed  up  the  north  fork  of  the 
Snake  River,  going  by  Henry's  Lake  {q.  v. ) ,  thru  Targhee  pass  ( q.  v.) 
thence  on  to  the  Madison,  following  it  into  the  Yellowstone  National 
Park,  sweeping  thru  the  lower  geyser  basin,  where  they  captured  and 
killed  some  tourists,  emerging  from  the  park  on  to  the  Clark's  fork 
of  the  Yellowstone,  down  which  they  traveled,  and  across  the  Yellow- 
stone, after  which  they  had  a  running  fight  with  Colonel  Sturgis  at 


IDAHO    NOMENCLATURE  97 

Canyon  Creek  on  September  13th.  They  then  directed  their  course  due 
north  for  the  British  possessions,  crossing  the  Musselshell  River, 
thru  Judith  gap  and  down  the  Judith  River,  crossing  the  Missouri  at 
Cow  Island,  but  were  finally,  after  retreating  lf)00  miles,  surrounded 
by  Col.  Nelson  A.  Miles  at  Bear  Paw  Mountain,  where  they  surrendered 
on  October  5,  1877,  and  were  taken  from  thence  to  Fort  Leavenworth 
and  eventually  to  Indian  Territory. — HOWARD,  Life  Among  Hostile 
Indians. 

NEZ  PERCE  TRAIL  AND  PASS,  Idaho  County.— This  is  an  old  Indian 
trail  which  has  been  used  by  the  Nez  Perces  from  '"time  out  of  mind" 
as  they  crossed  the  mountains  to  hunt  buffalo  on  the  Missouri  and 
Yellowstone  rivers.  It  passed  up  the  south  fork  of  the  Clearwater  to 
its  source  whence  it  followed  the  divide  between  the  Salmon  and 
Clearwater  rivers  until  it  crossed  the  summit  of  the  Bitterroot  Moun- 
tains at  Nez  Perce  pass;  thence  across  the  Bitterroot  River,  thru 
Gibbon's  pass,  one  part  going  east  to  the  buffalo  country  and  the 
other  crossing  the  Rocky  Mountains  to  the  west  on  to  Salmon  River 
at  the  north  fork  of  the  Salmon;  thence  south  along  the  Lemhi  River 
and  Birch  Creek  to  the  Snake  River  plains   {q.  v.)  and  country. 

NIGGER  PRAIRIE,  Shoshone  County. — This  name  was  given  to  a  small 
grassy  opening  in  the  timber  on  the  old  Mullan  road.  It  was  so  named 
from  having  been  occupied  by  a  negro  man  as  an  eating  and  feeding 
station  several  years  ago,  and  who  it  is  said  was  killed  by  an  Indian 
and  left  -dead  on  the  premises  and  was  found  and  buried  by  white  men. 
This  clothes  its  history  with  a  somewhat  romantic  sadness.  Among 
Indians  there  is  no  prejudice  against  the  colored  race  and  some  tribes 
are  quite  fond  of  them.— ON DEBDONE,  Idaho. 

NOMENCLATURE. — It  would  "make  a  preacher  cuss"  to  see  how  many 
of  the  names  given  to  streams  and  places  by  the  Indians  and  old 
trappers  have  been  changed  to  others  that  have  neither  sense  nor 
meaning.  The  class  of  people  who  flock  to  mining  regions  appear  to 
have  about  as  much  originality  as  so  many  ganders.  Every  little  town, 
for  instance,  must  be  called  city  or  some  other  name  that  has  already 
been  used  in  naming  half  a  dozen  other  towns  in  mining  regions.  This 
tendency  to  change  the  old  names  of  places  and  streams,  as  the  coun- 
try settles  up,  is  much  to  be  regretted,  as  the  Indian  names  and  those 
given  by  the  early  pioneers  are  much  more  applicable  than  those  of 
civilization,  as  a  general  thing.  The  United  States  Postofnce  Depart- 
ment has  remedied  many  names  by  the  process  of  elimination  and 
union  of  words. — STUART,  Montana  As  It  Is. 

NON-TREATY  NEZ  PERCES.— There  were  two  main  divisions  of  the  Nez 
Perce  tribe:  First,  the  Upper  Xez  Perces  occupying  the  Clearwater 
country  with  Lapwai  (q.  v.)  as  the  center.  They  were  the  "Treaty 
Indians,"  composing  the  main  part  of  the  tribe,  numbering  about  2,500, 
and  never  went  upon  the  warpath;  second,  the  Lower  Nez  Perces 
who  lived  along  the  Snake  River  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  mouth  of 
the  Grande  Ronde  River  and  including  Wallowa  and  hnnaha  valley-, 
known   as   the    "Non-Treaty   Indians"   numbering   about   1,000.     When 


98  IDAHO    NOMENCLATURE 

Spalding  {q.  v.)  established  a  mission  at  Lapwai  in  1836  he  induced 
the  chief  of  the  Lower  Nez  Perces  to  settle  near  the  mission  and  bap- 
tized him  under  the  name  of  Joseph.  Spalding  abandoned  Lapwai 
suddenly  in  1847,  after  which  the  Treaty  Indians  ordered  Joseph  back 
to  his  own  country  of  Wallowa,  making  of  him  an  enemy  to  both 
Indians  and  whites.  Joseph  signed  the  treaty  of  1855  which  created 
the  Nez  Perce  Indian  Reservation  (q.  v.),  because  it  included  lands 
which  he  claimed.  The  discovery  of  gold  on  the  Clearwater  and  the 
influx  of  miners  necessitated  a  new  treaty,  which  was  made  in  1863, 
in  which  Wallowa  Valley  was  left  out  of  the  reserve.  Phis  treaty 
Joseph  refused  to  sign  or  be  bound  by  its  limits,  hence  the  name  of 
"Non-Treaty  Indians."  President  Grant  was  prevailed  upon  in  1873 
to  set  aside,  by  executive  order,  a  reservation  for  these  Indians,  which 
was  as  follows :  Commencing  at  the  right  bank  of  the  mouth  of  Grande 
Ronde  River;  thence  up  Snake  River  to  a  point  due  east  of  the  south- 
east corner  of  T.  1  S.,  R.  46  E.  of  the  Willamette  meridian;  thence 
due  west  to  the  west  fork  of  Wallowa  River;  thence  down  said  west 
fork  to  its  junction  with  the  Wallowa  River;  thence  down  said  river 
to  its  confluence  with  the  Grande  Ronde  River;  thence  down  the  last 
named  river  to  the  place  of  beginning.  After  getting  this  concession 
Joseph  died  in  1873,  leaving  not  only  the  chieftainship  but  his  hatred 
to  his  son,  Chief  Joseph  (q.  v.).  In  1875  President  Grant  revoked  his 
order  and  restored  this  reservation  to  the  public  domain.  In  speaking 
of  this  affair  and  especially  the  nation's  treatment  of  Indians  in  general 
Gen.  0.  0.  Howard  wrote:  "It  is  difficult  to  explain  the  almost  uni- 
form injustice  which  the  American  people  have  practiced  towards  the 
Indians.  We  can  match  the  massacre  of  St.  Bartholomew,  the  cruelties 
of  the  Inquisition,  or  the  ferocity  of  London  rioters,  in  our  dealings 
with  the  red  man."  The  Non-Treaty  Indians  were  ordered  upon  the 
Lapwai  Reservation  and  after  several  councils  they  agreed  to  go,  but 
outrageous  acts  toward  them  on  the  part  of  the  settlers  caused  them 
to  break  loose  and  declare  war  in  1877. — HOWARD,  Nez  Perce  Joseph. 

OLDS  FERRY,  Washington  County.— Named  for  R.  P.  Olds  who  in  1865 
was  at  the  head  of  the  transportation  company  organized  to  mo- 
nopolize the  Idaho  trade  and  stage  business  for  Oregon  as  against 
California.  They  endeavored  to  secure  all  mountain  passes  and  river 
crossings  over  which  they  maintained  toll  roads  and  ferries  to  levy 
tribute  upon  the  traffic  and  travel.  The  Idaho  Legislature  granted 
this  ferry  certain  privileges  on  Snake  River  under  an  act  of  1865. — 
BANCROFT,  History  of  ^Y(lshi)^gton,  Idaho  and  Montana. 

OOTLASHOOTS.— This  is  the  name  given  by  Lewis  and  Clark  to  that 
portion  of  the  Flathead  Indians  that  dwelt  along  the  Clark's  fork  of 
the  Columbia  in  Montana.  The  word  is  Salish  {q.  v.)  and  was  their 
own  name  for  themselves. 

OREGON  TRAIL. — This  was  the  first  great  highway  made  by  white  men 
across  Idaho  Territory.  All  early  routes  of  travel  were  occupied  first  by 
Indian  trails  which  had  been  used  by  the  natives  from  time  imme- 
morial before  white  people  passed  over  them.    The  Hunt-Astoria  party 


IDAHO    NOMENCLATURE  99 

(q.  v.)  were  the  first  whites  to  cross  this  route,  having  followed 
approximately  this  trail  from  the  Portneuf  (q.  v.)  to  the  Columbia 
River.  Nathaniel  Wyeth  and  Captain  Bonneville  {q.  v.)  passed  over 
parts  of  this  trail  in  the  '30s.  but  it  never  became  actually  estab- 
lished until  the  immense  travel  to  the  Oregon  country  beginning  with 
the  immigration  of  1843  and  continuing  to  be  used  until  that  country 
was  settled  and  became  American  soil.  It  developed  into  a  great  wagon 
road,  altho  called  a  trail,  and  was  pronounced  in  early  days  as  one  of 
the  finest  highways  in  the  world.  It  entered  Idaho  at  Border  where 
Bear  River  enters  the  state  and  followed  that  river  to  Soda  Springs 
(q.  v.)  and  thence  west  to  Portneuf  River,  down  which  it  passed  to 
Fort  Hall  (q.  v.),  which  was  the  most  important  station  along  the 
route  and  from  which  point  numerous  roads  and  trails  diverged.  From 
this  place  the  road  extended  westward  along  the  south  side  of  Snake 
River  {q.  v.)  to  the  ford  near  Glenn's  Ferry  and  thence  northwesterly 
to  Boise  River  (g.  v.)  and  down  this  river  to  its  mouth  at  Fort  Boise 
(g.  v.)  where  Snake  River  was  again  crossed,  entering  Oregon  and 
leading  over  the  Blue  Mountains  to  the  Columbia  River  (q.  v.),  being 
a  distance  of  415  miles  within  Idaho.  In  later  times  a  road  extended 
west  from  Fort  Hall,  crossing  thru  the  Lost  and  Wood  River  countries, 
called  Tim   Goodwill's   cutoff.— CHITTENDEN,   American  Fur   Trade. 

ORO  FINO  CREEK,  Clearwater  County.— This  word  is  of  Spanish  origin 
brought  from  the  south  and  means  "Oro,"  "gold"  and  "Fino,"  "pure" 
and  was  applied  to  this  stream  by  Capt.  E.  D.  Pierce  of  California, 
the  leader  of  the  discovery  party  that  struck  placer  diggings  on  this 
creek  in  1SG0.  The  creek  on  which  the  party  camped  they  named  Oro 
Fino  and  the  gulch  where  the  gold  was  discovered  and  which  opened 
into  the  creek  was  called  Canal  Gulch  and  is  the  place  where  placer 
gold  was  first  mined  to  any  extent  in  this  state.  Their  camp  grew  into 
a  town  afterwards  called  Pierce  City  for  Captain  Pierce,  the  discoverer. 
— BANCROFT,  History  of  AYashington,  Idaho  and  Montana. 

OVERLAND  TRAIL.— Of  this  route  General  Dodge  said:  "It  was  made 
by  the  buffalo,  next  used  by  the  Indians,  then  by  the  fur  traders,  next 
by  the  Mormons,  and  then  by  the  overland  immigration  to  California 
and  Oregon."  This  trail  when  first  established  followed  the  Oregon 
Trail  (q.  v.)  to  Raft  River  (q.  v.)  where  it  turned  off  going  up  the 
creek  and  passing  City  of  Rocks  and  thence  into  Nevada  to  California. 
Afterwards  it  passed  by  the  northern  extremity  of  Great  Salt  Lake  and 
did  not  enter  Idaho. — GUIDE,  O'rcrland  Route. 

OWYHEE  RIVER,  Owyhee  County.  This  is  the  name  which  Capt.  James 
Cook  gave  to  the  Sandwich  Islands  in  1778,  but  the  word  is  now  spelled 
"Hawaii."  In  1819  Donald  Mackenzie  outfitted  three  Owyhees  who 
were  employed  by  the  Hudson  Bay  Company  to  trap  this  stream  for 
beaver  during  the  winter.  The  Indians  found  and  murdered  them, 
since  which  time  this  stream  has  been  called  the  Owyhee  River. 

PAHKEE. — This  is  a  Shoshoni  Indian  word  meaning  "Pah,"  "water"  and 
"keek,"  "dropping"  or  "the  place  where  water  drops"  and  was-  applied 
by  them  to  the  Grosventres  whose  habitat  was  about  the  Great  Falls 


100  IDAHO    NOMENCLATURE 

of  the  Missouri  in  Montana.  These  Indians  were  the  most  relentlessly 
hostile  and  murderous  of  all  western  tribes.  Their  own  language  was 
so  difficult  to  learn  that  they  used  the  language  of  the  Blackfeet  in 
their  intercourse  with  the  whites,  for  which  reason  they  were  often 
mistaken  for  Blackfeet  Indians.  The  Indian  killed  by  Captain  Lewis 
on  his  return  trip  in  1806  was  not,  as  generally  reported,  a  Blackfoot 
but  a  Grosventre.  It  was  also  Grosventres  instead  of  Blackfeet  that 
participated  in  the  battle  of  Pierre's  hole  in  1832. 

PAUSIMAROI,  Lemhi  County. — This  is  a  Shoshoni  Indian  word  meaning 
"Pah,"  "water,"  "sima,"  "one"  and  "roi,"  "grove,"  or  in  English  "a 
grove  by  a  stream."  There  is  a  grove  of  evergreen  trees  growing  on  the 
south  side  of  this  river  making  a  natural  phenomenon  in  that  it 
occupies  an  isolated  and  detached  position,  miles  away  from  other 
trees.  It  is  an  almost  invariable  rule  that  where  evergreens  grow 
along  the  bottoms  there  will  be  found  single  and  straggling  trees 
extending  from  the  grove  back  to  the  main  forest  on  the  mountain 
side.  But  not  so  with  this  one  and  this  solitary  position  is  the  main 
idea  suggested  by  this  name. — REES,  History  of  Lemhi  County. 

PALOUSE  RIVER,  Latah  County. — This  stream  was  named  by  Captains 
Lewis  and  Clark  on  October  13,  1805,  for  George  Drewyer,  one  of  their 
party.  Later  the  Canadian  French  called  it  "Pavion,"  then  "Pavilion," 
because  the  Indians  camped  upon  it  temporarily  only  and  in  tents,  the 
name  finally  changing  to  the  French  "Palouse"  meaning  "lawn"  or 
"grass  spot"  as  the  river  flowed  thru  a  rolling,  bunch-grass  country. 
Those  families  of  the  Nez  Perce  tribe  that  eventually  settled  and  made 
their  homes  on  this  river  became  known  as  the  Palouse  Indians.  Lewis 
and  Clark  called  them  "Palleotepellows"  and  in  1860  they  were  located 
on  the  reservation  with  their  kinsmen,  the  Nez  Perces. — DE  SMET, 
Oregon  Missions;  ROSS,  Oregon  Settlers. 

PANHANDLE. — The  northern  portion  of  Idaho  is  so  called  because  of  the 
long,  narrow  strip  of  country  projecting  from  the  state  like  the  handle 
of  a.  frying-pan.  The  early  geographers  who  attempted  the  mapping 
of  the  country  west  of  the  Mississippi  River  left  a  very  vague  and 
erroneous  outline  of  the  Rocky  Mountain  formation.  The  dividing 
ridge  of  the  rocky  range  was  nearly  always  represented  as  a  right  line 
trending  from  the  northwest  to  southeast,  from  the  Canadian  boundary 
to  the  Mexican  border.  The  right  line  has,  however,  disappeared  from 
maps  as  explorations  have  brought,  from  year  to  year,  the  results  of 
their  researches.  Unfortunately,  however,  the  results  of  such  re- 
searches were  not  understood  by  Congress  when  the  bills  creating 
Montana  and  Wyoming  were  enacted,  whence  they  followed  the  Bitter- 
root  Range  intead  of  the  main  range  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  pro- 
ducing the  panhandle  shape  to  the  north  and  the  arm  chair  shape  to 
the  Wyoming  front. — MULL  AN,  Construction  of  a  Military  Road. 

PARKER'S  ITINERARY.— Rev.  Samuel  Parker  was  a  Presbyterian  mis- 
sionary who  came  West  in  1835  with  Dr.  Marcus  Whitman  to  Green 
River,  Wyoming,  where  they  met  so  many  Indians  desiring  their  serv- 
ices   that    Doctor    Whitman    returned    East    for    more    workers    while 


IDAHO    NOMENCLATURE*  191 

Reverend  Parker  traveled  with  a  company  of  Nez  Perces  to  the  Walla 
Walla  River.  They  left  Green  River  August  21,  1835,  crossed  Teton 
pass  [q.  v.)  into  Teton  basin  and  toward  the  Snake  River  which  they 
crossed  at  the  mouth  of  Fall  River  on  September  1st;  thence  across 
Camas  and  Beaver  creeks  (q.  v.)  to  Medicine  Lodge  Creek  (q.  v.)  and 
into  Sheep  Creek  basin,  Montana;  thence  on  to  the  Lemhi  River  (q.  v.) 
September  11th;  thence  passing  down  the  Lemhi  and  Salmon  rivers, 
arriving  at  Bonneville's  Fort  (q.  v.)  on  the  Salmon  River  September 
15th.  They  followed  the  Lewis  and  Clark  trail  (q.  v.)  until  it  inter- 
sected the  Nez  Perce  trail  {q.  v.)  which  latter  trail  they  followed  to 
the  Clearwater  River  (q.  v.)  and  thence  down  to  Snake  River  {q.  v.) 
and  on  to  Walla  Walla  where  Reverend  Parker  selected  Waiilatpu  as 
the   site   for   Doctor   Whitman's   mission. — PARKER,    Exploring   Tour. 

PAYETTE  LAKE. — This  is  the  name  given  to  a  geologic  fresh  water  lake 
of  Tertiary  times  which  occupied  the  Snake  River  plains  {q.  v.)  and  is 
thus  called  because  its  formation  is  so  well  exposed  along  the  Payette 
River  (q.  v.).  The  earth  was  built  up  in  the  Formative  eon  after 
which  the  Gradational  eon,  that  of  erosion  and  sedimentation,  began, 
which  occupied  about  200,000,000  years.  Up  to  15,000,000  years  ago 
the  Snake  River  (q.  i\)  had  eroded  the  surface  of  its  basin  to  a  low 
gradient.  The  valley  of  the  main  stream,  the  ancient  representative  of 
Snake  River,  became  broad  and  had  many  important  tributary  valleys 
opening  from  it  and  extending  far  into  the  bordering  mountains.  Its 
topography  had  come  to  maturity,  but  in  the  Cretaceous  period  there 
was  an  upward  movement  of  rocks  resulting  in  the  upheaval  of  the 
mother  lode  (q.  v.),  which  was  thrown  athwart  the  course  of  the 
Snake  River  in  western  Idaho  and  eastern  Oregon  forming  a  lake  which 
covered  the  Snake  River  plains  now  called  Payette  Lake.  It  was 
of  Miocene  age  and  stood  about  4000  feet  above  sea  level,  being  about 
2500  feet  at  its  deepest  point.  Some  5.000.000  years  ago  this  lake 
received  the  outpour  of  one  of  the  greatest  lava  flows  known  in 
geology,  the  Tertiary  lava  (q.  v.)  of  the  Columbia  River  basin,  since 
which  time  the  streams  of  the  Snake  River  plains  have  worn  and  cut 
their  way  to  their  present  conditions. — RUSSELL,  Snake  tiiver  Plains. 

PAYETTE  RIVER,  Payette  County.— This  river  was  named  for  Francis 
Payette  who  in  1818  led  a  small  party  of  Hudson  Bay  trappers  along 
this  stream  to  catch  beaver.  He  was  afterwards  the  trader  in  charge 
at  Fort  Boise  (q.  v.)  for  the  Hudson  Bay  Company. 

PEND  OREILLE  INDIANS.— This  name  is  of  French  origin  meaning 
"Pend,"  "drop"  and  "Oreille,"  "ear"  or  literally  "earring-"  and  was 
doubtless  given  by  the  Canadian  French  explorers  to  Pend  Oreille  Lake 
(q.  v.)  on  account  of  the  peculiar  shape  of  the  lake,  being  that  of  an 
ear.  Some  authorities  state  that  the  name  was  originally  given  to  the 
tribe  of  Indians  that  inhabited  the  shore-  of  fins  lake  because  of  their 
custom  of  wearing  earrings,  but  there  is  no  evidence  either  of  observa- 
tion or  tradition  that  thev  ever  wore  ear  ornaments,  besides,  the  custom 
of  wearing  ear  ornaments  was  so  universal  among  Indian-  thai  it  could 
not  have  been  considered  a   distinct  tribal  characteristic.    The  Indians 


102  IRA  HO    NOMENCLATURE 

call  themselves  "Kalispels"  {q.  v.)  .—GUIDEBOOK,  Northern  Pacific 
Route. 

PEND  OREILLE  LAKE,  Bonner  County.— The  geologic  feature  of  this 
lake  is  that  of  a  drowned  valley  which  is  held  by  a  gravel  dam  on  the 
west.  It  is  about  fifty  miles  long  and  from  two  to  fifteen  miles  wide 
and  is  said  to  be  very  deep.  As  it  is  long  and  narrow  and  lies  between 
mountains  2000  to  3000  feet  high  it  must,  if  the  reported  depth  of 
water  is  correct,  occupy  a  eanj^on  rivaling  in  size  and  depth  the  Grand 
Canyon  of  the  Colorado  in  Arizona. — GUIDEBOOK,  Northern  Pari  fie 
Route. 

PHYSICAL  FEATURES.— Idaho  is  situated  between  42°  and  49°  north 
latitude  and  1110  and  117°  west  longitude.  The  lowest  elevation  is 
Lewiston,  738  feet;  the  highest  is  Hyndman  Peak,  12,078  feet;  the 
mean  elevation  being  4,500  feet.  It  contains  83,354  square  miles  of  land 
surface,  534  square  miles  of  water  surface,  making  a  total  area  of 
83.888  square  miles,  and  ranks  the  twelfth  among  the  states  of  the 
Union  in  area.  Three  features  roughly  divide  the  state.  First,  the 
Rocky  Mountain  region  comprising  the  irregular  eastern  boundary  and 
northern  portions ;  second,  the  Plateau  region  comprising  the  inter- 
montane  elevated  plains  lying  between  the  Rocky  Mountains  and  the 
Cascade  Range;  and,  third,  the  Great  Basin  region  consisting  of  a 
small  southeastern  portion,  the  drainage  from  which  flows  into  Great 
Salt  Lake. 

PIERRE'S  HOLE,  Teton  County. — This  place  was  named  for  an  Iroquois 
Indian  trapper  who  first  discovered  it  in  1819  while  trapping  for  the 
Hudson  Bay  Company  and  who  was  afterwards  killed  on  Jefferson 
River  in  1827.  His  Canadian  French  name  was  Vieux  Pierre.  This  place 
is  now  called  Teton  basin  (q.  v.).  The  word  "pierre"  in  French  means 
"stone"— CHITTENDEN,  American  Fur  Trade. 

PILOT  KNOBS.— .This  is  the  name  given  to  the  Teton  Peaks  (q.  v.)  by  the 
Hunt-Astoria  party  (q.  v.)  in  1811,  as  they  were  used  as  guiding 
points  by  the  members — IRVING,  Astoria. 

PIONEER,  Butte  County. — This  place  was  named  in  honor  of  that  great 
class  of  people  who,  thru  many  hardships  and  privations,  made  it 
possible  for  western  civilization  to  exist.  The  pioneer  is  the  Hesperus 
that  leads  out  the  stars  which  shine  in  the  firmament  of  history.  Upon 
the  stage  of  American  history  the  pioneer  and  the  Indian  have  played 
important  parts.  Upon  the  Avenue  of  Palms  at  the  Panama-Pacific 
International  Exposition  stood  the  American  pioneer  and  the  Indian, 
the  latter  sculptured  in  "The  Lost  Trail."  It  was  the  pioneer  that 
blazed  the  trails  of  progress  which  have  broadened  into  palm-bordered 
avenues  upon  the  royal  highway  of  achievement,  where,  today,  the  red 
man  seeks  in  vain  the  trail  of  his  old  wild  ways. — MRS.  J.  R.  Both- 
WELL,  Report  to  'Woman's  Club. 

POKATELLO,  Bannock  County. — This  is  a  Shoshoni  Indian  word  meaning 
"Po,"  "road,"  "ka,"  "not"  and  "tello,"  "to  follow"  or  "He  does  not 
follow  the  road,"  and  was  applied  to  this  chief  of  the  Bannack  Indians 
because  of  his  stealthy  habits  and  thieving  raids.    In  1862  he  and  his 


IDAHO    NOMENCLATURE  103 

followers  massacred  a  California  emigrant  train  near  the  City  of 
Rocks  in  Cassia  County,  for  which  deed  Gen.  P.  E.  Connor  of  Fort 
Douglas,  Utah,  surrounded  his  winter  camp  on  Bear  River  on  January 
29,  1863,  and  almost  annihilated  the  entire  band.  On  July  2'.).  1863, 
the  Government  made  a  treaty  with  Pokatello  and  his  followers,  called 
the  Northwestern  Bands,  as  follows:  It  is  agreed  that  friendly  and 
amicable  relations  shall  be  re-established  and  it  is  declared  that  a 
firm  and  perpetual  peace  shall  henceforth  be  maintained.  And  the 
said  Northwestern  Bands  hereby  acknowledge  to  have  received  pro- 
visions and  goods  to  the  amount  of  $2,000  to  relieve  their 
immediate  necessities,  the  said  bands  having  been  reduced  by  war  to 
a  state  of  utter  destitution.  The  country  claimed  by  Pokatello,  for 
himself  and  his  people  is  bounded  on  the  west  by  Raft  River  and  on 
the  east  by  the  Portneuf  Mountains.  When  the  Fort  Hall  Indian 
Reservation  {q.  v.)  was  formed  in  1869  most  of  this  country  was 
included  in  that  reserve  and  all  the  Indians  were  placed  upon  it.  In 
1864  Ben  Holliday  opened  a  stage  route  from  Salt  Lake  City  to  Vir- 
ginia City,  Montana,  and  located  a  station  along  the  route  which  he 
named  "Pocatello"  for  this  chief.  The  place  developed  into  the  present 
town  of  Pocatello  which  is  near  Batise  springs,  a  great  Indian  camp 
and  resort  in  olden  days. 

PORTNEUF  RIVER,  Bannock  County.— This  stream  was  named  for  a 
Hudson  Bay  trapper  who  was  with  Peter  Skene  Ogden's  Snake  country 
expedition  of  1825  and  who  that  year  was  murdered  by  the  Bannack 
Indians  while  making  the  rounds  to  his  traps  along  this  stream.  The 
ill-starred  canyon  of  the  Portneuf,  memorable  in  all  its  early  and 
recent  history  for  murder,  robbery  and  disaster,  has  been  a  favorable 
haunt  for  stage  robbers  and  highwaymen.  Its  flow  is  constantly  inter- 
rupted by  low  lava  rock  dams,  resulting  in  quiet  pools  and  successive 
cascades  from  an  inch  to  four  feet  in  height,  from  which  incident  some 
think  that  this  "gate  way  of  rocks"  gave  the  name  to  the  canyon,  as 
the  Canadians,  many  of  whom  trapped  this  stream,  which  was  con- 
sidered one  of  the  best  beaver  streams  in  the  West,  would  sav  "Port" 
meaning  "gate"  and  "neuf,  "ninth"  or  the  stream  with  "nine  gates" 
along  its  course. — LAXGFORD,  Vigilante  Days  and  Ways. 

POTLATCH  RIVER,  Latah  County.— This  is  a  Chinook  jargon  (q.  v.) 
word  derived  from  a  tribal  ceremonial  and  means  "giving."  In  the 
early  days  a  Nez  Perce  by  the  name  of  Shucklatumna  Hi  Hi,  which 
means  "white  owl,"  had  a  cayuse  pony  with  which  he  carried  footmen, 
who  were  traveling  thru  the  country,  to  the  mines  across  the  river, 
charging  a  quarter  of  a  dollar  for  the  service.  One  day  the  stream 
was  high  and  a  big  Irishman,  weighing  about  200  pounds,  wanted  to 
be  taken  across.  The  Indian  first  took  the  blankets  across  and  then 
came  back  and  got  the  Irishman  behind  him  on  the  cayuse.  When  in 
midstream  the  pony  stumbled.  The  Irishman  fell  off  and  was  being 
swept  into  the  main  stream  of  the  Clearwater.  The  Indian  followed 
him  on  his  pony,  hollering  to  him,  "Potlatch  quarter!  Potlatch  quarter! 
Then  drown  if  you  want  to."    From  this  incident  it  was  called  "Pot- 


104  IDAHO    NOMENCLATURE 

latch,"  but  before  that  time  the  Indians;  called  it  "Yaka"  meaning 
"black  bear."— BE  ALL,  Idaho  Librarian  Report,  1915-16. 

PRIEST  LAKE,  Bonner  County.— This  lake  was  named  for  Father 
Roothaan,  who  was  a  priest  of  the  Jesuit  order  doing  missionary  -work 
in  Washington  and  Idaho  along  with  Father  l)e  Smet  in  1845.  He 
died  in  1853  and  was  buried  in  the  lake.  The  Indians  called  him 
Kaniksu  and  this  lake  was  called  Kaniksu  Lake  until  the  construction 
of  the  Great  Northern  Railroad  in  1890  when  the  name  was  changed 
to  Priest  Lake. — DE  SMET,  Oregon  Missions. 

PRITCHARD,  Shoshone  County. — This  place  was  named  for  A.  J.  Prit- 
chard,  who  first  discovered  gold  in  paying  quantities  in  the  Coeur 
d'Alene  country  in  1880.  While  these  diggings  were  not  as  rich  as  some 
Idaho  placers  yet  considerable  gold  was  washed  from  the  gravel  and, 
in  connection  with  the  placer  mining,  prospecting  for  quartz  and  the 
opening  of  rich  lead-silver  lodes,  developed  a  mining  district  in  the 
heart  of  the  Bitterroot  and  Coeur  d'Alene  mountains  that  has  pro- 
duced millions  of  wealth.— ONDERDON K,  Idaho. 

QUAKING  ASP.— The  superstitious  voyageurs  thot  that  this  was  the 
wood  of  which  the  cross  was  made  and  that  ever  since  the  crucifixion 
its  leaves  have  exhibited  that  constant  tremulous  appearance,  which 
has  given  rise  to  the  name  "quaking"  meaning  "tremble"  of  the  French. 
The  genus  populus,  consisting  of  the  poplar,  cottonwood  and  aspen, 
were  important  trees  ,in  the  settlement  of  the  west. — CHITTENDEN, 
American  Far  Trade. 

RAFT  RIVER,  Cassia  County. — This  stream  was  so  called  because  the 
beavers  had  so  clogged  the  channel  with  their  dams  that  it  was  neces- 
sary for  the  early  settlers  traveling  over  the  Oregon  trail  {q.  v.)  to 
cross  the  mouth  of  the  river  in  rafts.  The  Hudson  Bay  trappers  called 
it  "Cajeux"  meaning  "Ca,"  "to  and  fro"  and  "jeux,"  "play,"  for  some 
fanciful  notion  about  the  stream's  behavior. 

REDROCK  PASS,  Bannock  County.— This  place  is  named  for  the  red 
limestone  cliffs  which  appear  on  both  sides  of  the  pass  and  was  the  old 
outlet  of  Lake  Bonneville.  During  the  Tertiary  period,  from  five  to 
ten  million  years  ago,  a  fresh  water  lake  existed  in  the  Great  Salt 
Lake  basin,  which  was  eleven  times  larger  than  the  present  lake  and 
comparable  in  size  and  depth  to  Lake  Michigan.  Its  water  surface 
was  1,000  feet  above  the  present  level,  making  a  great  water  expanse, 
the  outlet  to  which  was  thru  this  pass  down  the  Portneuf  to  Snake 
River  (q.  v.)  and  into  Payette  Lake  (q.  v.)  A  time  came  when  the 
evaporation  from  this  fresh  water  lake  was  greater  than  the  precipita- 
tion and  supply  of  moisture  after  which  event  it  dwindled  to  its 
present  condition  and  is  still  decreasing,  resulting  in  a  strongly  saline 
aqueous  contents.  As  Captain  Bonneville's  party  was  the  first  to 
explore  this  basin  to  anj^  extent  geologists  named  the  geologic  fresh 
water  lake  for  this  explorer.  Another  pass  of  this  name  is  in  north- 
eastern Idaho,  which  receives  its  appellation  from  the  Redrock  lakes 
of  Montana.— GUIDEBOOK,  Overland  Route. 


IDAHO    NOMENCLATURE  105 

REED'S  RIVER,  Ada  County.— In  1813  John  Reed,  of  the  Pacific  Fur 
Company,  with  a  party  of  ten  trappers  wintered  on  this  stream,  but 
were  all  killed  in  the  spring  by  the  Indians,  since  which  time  and  from 
which  incident  it  was  called  Reed's  River.  Donald  Mackenzie  lost  two 
men,  who  were  murdered  by  the  Indians  along  this  stream  in  1819, 
and  four  in  1820.  This  river  has  been  called  Wooded  and  Timber 
River  from  the  number  of  poplar  and  cottonwood  trees  that  grew  along 
its  course,  but  is  now  known  as  the  Boise  River  (q.  v.). — ROSS, 
Journal. 

RENDEZVOUS. — Instead  of  maintaining  central  forts,  as  did  the  British 
companies,  the  American  dealer  appointed  a  rendezvous  for  each  sum- 
mer at  the  time  when  beaver  fur  is  least  valuable  to  catch.  To  this 
rendezvous  came  the  employees  of  the  companies  and  the  free  or  in- 
dependent trapper  with  their  pelts,  and  with  them  congregated  Indians 
and  half-breeds,  with  an  interspersing  of  Canadians  from  the  north  and 
Spaniards   from   the   south. — FRENCH,  History  of  Idaho. 

ROCKY  BAR,  Elmore  County. — The  mines  of  Alturas  County  (q.  v.)  were 
discovered  in  the  earlv  '00s  by  goldhunters  on  their  wav  to  sonic 
far-off  El  Dorado.  The  first  discovery  was  made  in  the  extreme  north- 
western end  of  the  county  in  an  aggregation  of  granite  boulders,  since 
known  as  "Rocky  bar,"  and  in  1804  the  placer  mines  of  Atlanta,  named 
from  the  battle  of  Atlanta,  were  discovered  and  a  town  was  founded. — 
ONDERDONE,  Idaho. 

ROCKDAM  RIVER,  Clearwater  County. — This  is  the  name  which  Captain 
Clark  gave  to  a  stream  on  September  25,  1805,  from  the  rocks  that 
obstructed  its  passage.    It  is  now  called  Oro  Fino  River   (q.  v.). 

ROCKY  MOUNTAINS— The  first  knowledge  by  the  whites  of  the  Rocky 
Mountains  was  gained  thru  the  Spaniards  of  Mexico,  who  had  ex- 
plored a  considerable  part  of  the  southwestern  United  States,  and  the 
name  first  applied  to  them  was  the  "Mexican  Mountains."  La  Veren- 
drye  in  1748  was  the  first  European  to  discover  these  mountains  north 
of  the  Spanish  line  of  42°,  and  because  their  snowy  ridges  gleamed 
brightly  when  the  sun  shone  upon  them  he  called  the  range  the  "Shin- 
ing Mountains."  In  1793  the  Canadian  French,  under  Alexander  Mac- 
kenzie, which  was  the  first  white  party  to  cross  these  mountains, 
called  them  from  their  rough  and  rocky  nature  and  the  tremendous 
efforts  they  had  to  put  forth  in  crossing  them,  the  "Montagnes 
Rocheuses,"  from  which  has  come  the  modern  word  "Rockv  Moun- 
tains."  Lewis  and  Clark  called  them,  generally,  the  "Rockies,"  how- 
ever, at  times  they  designated  them  "Snowy"  and  "Stony"  mountains. 
The  term  has  come  to  mean  the  mountains  between  the  Mississippi 
and  the  Pacific,  just  as  the  "Alleghany"  applies  in  a  general  way  to 
the  mountains  between  the  Mississippi  and  the  Atlantic.  Every 
separate  range  of  these  mountains  is  now  mapped  with  its  local  name, 
so  that  the  name  "Rocky  Mountains"  scarcely  appear  on  modern 
maps,  and  while  it  is  a  natural  geographical  line  it  forms  a  state 
boundary  in  only  one  place  for  about  one  hundred  miles  between  Idaho 
and  Montana.    The  English  geographers  designated  the  range  extend- 


106  IDAHO    NOMENCLATURE 

ing  thru  Canada  and  the  United  States  in  the  west  the  "Chipewyan" 
system  for  the  great  Indian  tribe  of  Alberta,  which  name  should  sur- 
vive, being  in  marked  contrast  with  the  "Apalachian"  system  extending 
thru  Canada  and  the  United  States  in  the  east  and  named  for  a  tribe 
of  Indians  in  Florida.— CHITTENDEN,  American  Fur  Trade. 

SACAGAWEA. — This  was  the  name  of  a  Shoshoni  Indian  woman,  the 
heroine  of  the  Lewis  and  Clark  expedition.  She  was  born  near  Fort 
Lemhi  (q.  v.)  about  1786  and  was  stolen  from  her  tribe  by  the  Pahkees 
(q.  v.)  about  1800,  who  sold  her  to  their  relatives  the  Hidatse  from 
whom  Charboneau  purchased  her,  or  perhaps  won  her  at  the  "hand 
game."  Her  brother,  Cameahwait  ( q.  v.) ,  became  chief  of  that  portion 
of  the  Shoshonis  inhabiting  Lemhi  (q.  v.).  The  name  is  of  Shoshoni 
(q.  v.)  origin  and  comes  from  "Sye"  meaning  "boat"  and  "Tzack-qui- 
ee,"  '"pull  it  off"  or,  literally,  a  "boat  launcher."  This  naire  was'  given 
to  this  girl  to  express  her  light-hearted  nature  and  the  idea  to  be 
conveyed  in  the  expression  is,  "She  glides  like  a  boat."  The  Indian 
sign  for  "boat"  and  "bird"  are  very  similar,  being  made  with  both 
hands,  one  representing  the  "flapping  of  wings"  and  the  other  the 
"working  of  oars."  Captain  Clark  mistook  the  sign  and  called  her  the 
"bird  woman."  The  name  is  pronounced  "Si-kaj-ah-wee-ah."  It  was 
either  her  cousin  or  nephew,  Snagg  ( q.  v.) ,  that  succeeded  her  brother 
as  chief  and  after  he  was  killed  at  Bannack,  Montana,  in  1863,  her 
close  relatives  moved  to  Wyoming  among  other  Shoshoni  relatives  and 
when  in  1868  the  Wind  River  Reservation  was  created  she  also  re- 
moved  there.  Her  son.  Batiste,  and  her  nephew.  Bazil,  lived  witli  her 
on  this  reservation  and,  like  their  father,  followed  the  business  of 
guide,  scout  and  trapper  and  were  known  to  traverse  considerable 
portions  of  Idaho  and  Utah,  visiting  the  Shoshoni  tribes  of  Sna'e. 
Boise  and  Lemhi  rivers,  and  she,  no  doubt,  accompanied  them.  She 
died  in  1SS4  and  was  buried  on  the  Wind  River  Reservation,  as  is 
also  her  son  and  nephew. 

SACRED  HEART  MISSION,  Kootenai  County.— This  mission  was  founded 
by  Father  Point  in  November.  1S42.  and  proved  quite  successful.  At 
first  it  was  located  on  the  Saint  Joseph  River,  but  in  1846  Father  De 
Smet  had  it  removed  to  the  Coeur  d'Alene  River  where  in  1853  the 
firsl  Catholic  church  in  Idaho  was  erected  by  the  neophytes.  In  1865 
Father  Cataldo  took  charge  of  this  mission  after  which  the  place 
became  known  as  Cataldo,  but  the  Indians  eventually  had  the  mission 
removed  to  the  Coeur  d'Alene  Reservation.  Father  De  Smet  called 
the  Coeur  d'Alene  Indians  the  "Pointed  Hearts"  and  their  mission 
building  he  designated  the  "Sacred  Heart." — DE  SMET,  Letters  and 
Sketches. 

SALISH. — This  was  the  most  easterly  tribe  of  the  Salishan  family  {q.  v.) 
and  is  the  name  for  the  Flathead  Indians.  No  Indian  tribes  flattened 
the  head,  but  many  of  them  deformed  it  by  making  it  slope  from  the 
forehead  to  a  pointed  crown.  Salish  is  a  name  which  the  Flatheads 
gave  themselves,  conveying  by  the  word  the  idea  that  they  leave  their 
heads   in   their   natural   condition,   flat  on   top,   rather   than   deforming 


IDAHO    NOMENCLATURE  107 

them  as  the  coast  tribes  did.  0.  S.  Fowler  in  Human  Science  says: 
"The  ample  development  of  the  moral  faculties  in  man  elevates  the 
head  above  the  ears  and  elongates  and  widens  it  on  top,  while  its 
deficiency  leaves  it  low,  flat  and  short  on  top."  This  tribe,  more  than 
any  other,  was  religiously  inclined  as  related  by  Father  De  Smet  (q.  v.) 
and  this  tendency  developed  some  of  the  religious  faculties  of  the  mind 
producing  that  shape  of  head,  which  the  Canadian  French  called  "Tetes 
Plates"  (Flatheads),  which  designation  has  become  permanent.  The 
sign  among  all  Indians  for  this  tribe  conveys  the  same  idea.  It  is, 
"Pat  the  right  side  of  the  head  above  and  back  of  the  ears  with  the 
flat  right  hand,"  referring  to  the  elongation  of  the  occiput.  This  tribe 
was  the  ugliest  of  all  mountain  Indians  and,  while  the  men  had  good 
dispositions,  the  women  were  inclined  to  be  quarrelsome. 

SALISHAN  FAMILY.— This  is  a  linguistic  family  of  North  American 
Indians  that  occupied  a  large  part  of  British  Columbia,  Washington, 
and  parts  of  Idaho  and  Montana,  numbering  at  the  last  census  20,000. 
There  were  about  sixty  tribes  of  which  the  Salish  (q.  v.)  was  the 
principal  one  and  the  one  for  which  the  family  was  named.  The  tribes 
of  this  family  entering  into  Idaho  history  were  the  Pend  Orcilles, 
Coeur  d'Alenes,  Spokans,  Colvilles  and  Flatheads  (q.  v.),  all  speaking 
nearly  the  same  language. 

SALMON  CREEK,  Lemhi  County. — This  was  the  name  given  by  Lewis  and 
Clark  on  August  31,  1805,  to  a  small  stream  because  of  the  number  of 
salmon  fish  (q.  v.)  seen  therein.  In  1832  Captain  Bonneville  (q.  v.) 
erected  a  temporary  fortification  on  this  stream  where  the  Lewis  and 
Clark  trail  (q.  v.)  crosses  and  near  its  confluence  with  the  Salmon 
River  (q.  v.).  In  1835  Rev.  Samuel  Parker  (q.  v.)  was  at  this  fort 
and  remarked  its  pleasant  location.  In  1878  Hon.  Granville  Stuart 
visited  this  fort  finding  considerable  remains  in  evidence,  but  at  the 
present  time  small  traces  only  of  its  existence  are  to  be  seen.  In  the 
'70s  Benjamin  Carmen  built  a  sawmill  on  this  stream  from  which 
incident  it  took  its  present  name  of  "Carmen  Creek." 

SALMON  FISH. — 'This  name  is  from  the  Latin  8almo,  meaning  "lea per," 
from  the  fact  that  they  jump  and  climb  the  rapids,  cataracts  and 
falls  in  the  streams  they  inhabit,  in  which  they  display  very  great 
strength  but  reduce  their  flesh  and  scar  and  mutilate  their  bodies. 
They  are  said  to  be  anadromous,  meaning  "to  pass  from  the  sea  to 
fresh  water  to  spawn."  The  salmon  of  the  Columbia  River  basin  belong 
to  the  family  Oncorhynchus,  a  Greek  word  meaning  "hooked  snout," 
and  are  divided  by  ichthyologists  into  five  classes:  (1)  Quinnat 
(Chinook  name).  King,  California.  Chinook  or  Columbia  River  salmon, 
the  most  widely  known  and  the  most  valuable  fish  in  the  world,  at- 
taining an  extreme  weight  of  one  hundred  pounds,  though  averaging 
only  twenty-five  pounds,  and  are  spring  runners;  (2)  Bluebaek,  Sock- 
eye,  Nerka  (Russian  name),  or  Red  salmon,  the  most  valuable  of 
Alaskan  fishes,  weighing  from  three  to  eight  pounds  and  are  also 
spring  runners;  (3)  Silver,  Kisutch  (Kamchatka  name)  salmon,  of 
little  economic  value,  weighing  from  three  to  seven  pounds,  but  fall 


108  IDAHO    NOMENCLATURE 

runners;  (4)  Humpback  or  Pink  salmon,  a  recent  or  new  specie,  weigh- 
ing three  to  ten  pounds  and  fall  runners;  (5)  Dog,  Calico  or  Keta 
I  Kamchatka  name)  salmon,  of  a  vastly  inferior  quality,  weighing  from 
four  to  ten  pounds  and  fall  runners.  There  are  one  hundred  varieties 
of  the  salmon  family  but  the  above  inhabit  only  the  north  Pacific 
Ocean,  so  when  the  Shoshonis  fed  Captain  Lewis  on  salmon  August  13, 
1805,  he  then  knew  he  was  on  the  head  waters  of  the  Columbia  River. 
Captain  Bonneville  said:  "The  salmon  on  the  west  side  of  the  Rocky 
Mountains  are,  like  the  buffalo  on  the  eastern  plains,  vast  migratory 
supplies  for  the  wants  of  man.  that  conic  and  go  with  the  seasons." 
They  begin  to  ascend  the  rivers  in  April  and  during  the  journey  do 
not  feed  in  fresh  water.  They  go  to  the  remotest  head  waters  and 
tributaries  and  from  July  to  September  lay  their  eggs,  which  are  about 
the  size  of  a  pea,  in  holes  in  the  gravelly  beds  of  the  streams,  made  by 
the  female  salmon  lying  on  her  side  and  washing  out  the  gravel  by  a 
flapping  motion  of  her  body  and  tail,  after  which  the  eggs  are  feitilized 
by  the  male  and  covered  over  with  gravel.  They  usually  die  after  the 
breeding  season  is  over  and  scarcely  any  of  them  ever  return  to  the 
sea.  The  young  hatch  out  in  about  three  months  and  by  the  time  they 
are  two  months  old  are  about  an  inch  in  length.  They  remain  in  the 
shallow  water  of  the  stream  until  spring  when  they  descend  to  the 
ocean  by  drifting  down  stream  tail  first,  reaching  the  sea  by  the  time 
they  are  five  months  old.  Here  they  remain  four  years  after  which, 
having  matured,  they  ascend  the  rivers  to  the  place  of  their  birth, 
where  they  spawn  and  die.  The  salmon  trout  or  steel-head  is  a  specie 
that  lives  permanently  in  fresh  water  streams  and  lakes. — QUAGKEN- 
B08,  Forest  and  Stream,  July,  1918. 

SALMON  LAKE,  Lemhi  County. — This  was  a  geologic  fresh  Avater  lake 
of  the  Miocene  age,  resulting  from  the  upheaval  of  the  Mother  lode 
{q.  v.).  It  occupied  the  Salmon  River  Valley  from  Northfork  south- 
ward; the  Pahsimaroi  Valley  (q.  v.)  and  the  Lemhi  Valley  (q.  v.), 
with  its  outlet  over  the  Lemhi-Birch  Creek  Divide,  whence  it  drained 
down  Birch  Creek  into  Payette  Lake  (q.  v.).  It  was  about  5.000  feet 
at  its  deepest  place.  About  5,000,000  years  ago  the  water  from  this 
lake  began  carving  its  way  through  the  upheaved  mass,  resulting  in 
the  Salmon  River  Canyon  and  rapids,  ore  of  the  mosl  magnificent  and 
wonderful  gorges  ever  produced  by  nature.  Since  then  the  drainage 
has  been  to  the  northwest  toward  the  Columbia  River. — UMPLEBY, 
Geology  of  Lemhi  Gounty. 

SALMON  RIVER  MOUNTAINS.— These  mountains  extend  from  the  Bit- 
terroot  Mountains  westwardly  to  and  beyond  Snake  River,  which  has 
cut  its  way  thru  thorn  in  one  of  the  most  imposing  canyons  in  the 
world.  To  the  west  of  Snake  River  these  mountains  continue  into 
Oregon,  where  they  are  known  as  the  Blue  Mountains,  so  called  by  the 
Canadian  French  trappers  because  of  their  blue  color  when  seen  afar  off. 
The  trappers  usually  called  the  entire  range,  including  both  the  Blue 
and  Salmon  River  Mountains,  the  Blue  Mountains.  The  Salmon  River 
Mountains  divide  the  state  into  a  northern  portion,  where  the  normal 


IDAHO    NOMENCLATURE  109 

annual  precipitation  of  twenty-five  inches  is  sufficient  for  growing  most 
crops  without  irrigation,  and  a  southern  portion,  in  which  the  annual 
rainfall  is  seventeen  inches,  which  amount  is  not  sufficient  and  irriga- 
tion becomes  necessary  to  produce  profitable  crops. 

SALE  LAKE-DALLES  STAGE  ROUTE.— This  stage  route  was  organized 
to  carry  the  United  States  Mail  from  the  Dalles,  Oregon,  to  Salt  Lake 
City,  Utah,  and  began  operations  in  1807.  It  passed  from  the  Dalles 
along  the  Columbia  River  to  Wallula  and  from  thence  to  Baker  City, 
Oregon,  crossing  the  Snake  River  at  Olds  Ferry  (q.  v.)  ;  thence  thru 
Weiser,  Falk's  Store,  Boise  City,  old  Mountain  Home  (q.  v.),  Malad 
station  at  the  mouth  of  Malade  River  [q.  v.)  ;  then  across  Snake  River 
at  Salmon  or  Fishing  Falls  (q.  v.)  ;  thence  to  Rock  Creek  and  up  that 
stream  to  City  of  Rocks;  thence  to  Curlew  station  in  Utah;  passing 
from  thence  to  Bear  River  (q.  v.),  Ogden  and  Salt  Lake  City,  a  dis- 
tance of  785  miles,  330  of  which  was  in  Oregon,  335  in  Idaho,  and  120 
in  Utah. 

SAW  TOOTH  MOUNTAINS.— These  mountains  were  named  by  the  immi- 
grants during  the  '60s  and  were  so  called  because  of  the  jagged  peaks 
along  the  range,  which,  when  observed  along  the  sky  line,  resembled  a 
huge  saw  blade  lying  on  its  back. 

SHAHAPTAN. — This  is  a  linguistic  family  of  North  American  Indians 
that  occupied  north  central  Idaho,  southeastern  Washington  and  north- 
eastern Oregon,  and  at  the  last  census  numbered  5,000.  Their  earliest 
home  was  upon  the  Columbia  River  and  when  they  they  were  pushed 
southward  the  Salish  (q.  v.)  called  them  "Shahaptans,"  meaning 
"strangers  from  up  the  river."  There  were  several  tribes,  but  the 
principal  ones  were  the  Chopunnish  {q.  v.),  whose  principal  habitat 
was  on  the  Clearwater;  Palouses  (q.  v.)  and  Yakimas  in  southeastern 
Washington,  and  the  Umatillas  and  Walla  Wallas  in  northeastern 
Oregon. 

SHAPE. — The  shape  of  Idaho  is  that  of  a  straight  back  chair,  the  back 
being  500  miles  along  the  west,  bordering  Washington  and  Oregon; 
the  top  48  miles  along  the  north,  bordering  British  Columbia;  the 
upper  portion  of  front  about  500  miles  along  the  east,  bordering 
Montana;  the  lower  portion  of  front  about  180  miles  along  the  east, 
bordering  Wyoming,  and  the  bottom  305  miles  along  the  south,  bor- 
dering Utah  and  Nevada.  Its  greatest  length  from  north  to  south  is 
490  miles;  its  greatest  width  from  east  to  west  is  305  miles.  The 
northern  portion  is  called  the  Panhandle    (q.  v.). 

SHOSHONE  COVE. — This  is  the  name  given  by  Lewis  and  Clark  to  what 
was  afterwards  called  "Horse  Prairie,"  in  Montana.  They  called  it  thus 
from  the  tribe  of  Indians  with  whom  they  were  dealing,  hut  the  latter 
name  was  given  because  it  was  the  prairie  where  Lewis  and  Clark 
traded  with  the  Shoshonis  tor  horses.  The  Indian-  called  this  prairie 
"To-erh-ro-no."'  meaning  "The  place  of  trading  horses." 

SHOSHONE  FALLS,  Lincoln  County.— The  three  greai  falls  of  Amer- 
ica, Niagara.  Shoshone  and  Yosemite,  being  as  characteristically 
different    as    possible,    all    bear    Indian    names.      The     Shoshone    is 


110  IDAHO    NOMENCLATURE 

one  of  the  finest  and  most  magnificent  falls  in  the  world,  with  a 
plunge  of  nearly  200  feet.  "It  is  a  strange,  savage  scene — a  monotony 
of  pale  bine  sky,  olive  and  gray  stretches  of  desert,  frowning  walls  of 
jetty  lava,  deep  beryl-green  river  stretches,  reflecting  here  and  there 
the  intense  solemnity  of  the  clifi's,  and  in  the  center  a  dazzling  sheet 
of  foam.  In  the  early  morning  light  the  shadows  of  the  clifi's  were 
cast  over  half  the  basin,  defining  themselves  in  sharp  outline  here  and 
there  on  the  river.  Upon  the  foam  of  the  cataract  one  point  of  the 
rock  cast  a  cobalt-blue  shadow.  Where  the  river  flowed  around  the 
western  promontory  it  was  wholly  in  shadow  and  of  a  deep  sea-green. 
A  scanty  growth  of  coniferous  trees  fringed  the  brink  of  the  lower 
cliff's  overhanging  the  river.  Dead  barrenness  is  the  whole  sentiment 
of  the  scene.  The  mere  suggestion  of  trees,  clinging  here  and  there 
along  the  walls,  serves  rather  to  heighten  than  to  relieve  the  forbidding 
gloom  of  the  place.  Nor  does  the  flashing  whiteness  where  the  river 
tears  itself  among  the  rocky  islands,  or  rolls  in  spray  down  the  cliff, 
brighten  the  aspect.  In  contrast  with  its  brilliancy  the  rocks  seem 
darker  and  more  wild." — KING,  Geological  Survey. 

SHOSHONE  LAKE.— This  bodv  of  water  is  the  head  and  source  of  the 
Snake  River  {q.  v.)  and  was  first  mapped  in  1803  by  engineer  Walter 
W.  De  Lacy,  from  which  incident  the  United  States  Surveyor  General, 
of  Helena,  Montana,  gave  it  the  official  name  "De  Lacy's  Lake."  In 
1872  Prof.  F.  V.  Hayden,  of  the  United  States  Geological  Survey, 
visited  the  lake  and  thru  professional  jealousy  renamed  it  "\-  ho 
shone  Lake."  The  Snake  fork  of  the  Columbia  and  the  Madison  fork 
of  the  Missouri  rise  in  the  Yellowstone  National  Park  only  a  few 
miles  apart  and  only  a  few  miles  from  the  Green  fork  of  the  Colorado. 
— Historical  Society  of  Montana. 

SHOSHONE  AN  FAMILY. — Approximately  this  family  occupied  the  western 
part  of  the  United  States,  lying  between  north  latitude  35°  and  45° 
and  west  longitude  105°  to  120°,  being  the  third  family  in  the  extent 
of  country  occupied  and  at  last  census  numbered  24,000.  It  included 
some  of  the  most  virile  as  well  as  some  of  the  most  degraded  tribes 
upon  the  continent.  There  were  a  very  great  number  of  tribes,  but  the 
following  includes  them  all,  together  with  their  principal  habitats: 
Bannacks  (q.  v.),  on  the  Portneuf  River  {q.  v.)  ;  Comanches,  on  the 
plains;  Moquis,  in  the  pueblos  of  Arizona;  Pahutes,  in  Nevada,  Utah 
and  Arizona;  Shoshonis  (q.  v.),  in  Idaho,  Nevada  and  Utah;  Tukua- 
rikas  (q.  v.),  in  the  Salmon  River  Mountains  (q.  v.);  Tobikhars,  in 
California,  and  Utes,  in  Utah  and  Colorado.  This  family  took  its 
name  from  the  Shoshoni  tribe  (q.  v.).  The  Shoshonis,  Comanches  and 
Tukuarikas  are  recent  derivants  from  a  single  tribe  whilst  the  Utes, 
Pahutes  and  Bannacks  are  derivatives  from  another  but  related  tribe 
of  the  Shoshonean  family. 

SHOSHONI. — This  was  the  most  northerly  tribe  of  the  Shoshonean  family 
(q.  v.).  They  occupied  all  aboriginal  Idaho  south  of  the  Salmon 
River  {q.  v.),  and,  while  the  Snake  River  {q.  v.)  region  was  their 
chief  seat  and  stronghold,  yet  they  roamed  over  and  occupied  western 


IDAHO    NOMENCLATURE  111 

Wyoming,  northwestern  Colorado,  northern  Utah  and  Nevada,  south- 
eastern Oregon  and  northeastern  California.  For  treaty  purposes  the 
Government  divided  them  into  eastern  Shoshonis,  -who  were  eventually 
settled  upon  the  Wind  River  and  Fort  Hall  reservations  {q.  v.),  and 
the  western  Shoshonis,  who  were  eventually  settled  on  the  Malheur, 
Duck  Valley  (q.  v.)  and  Lemhi  reservations  {a.  v.).  The  tribe  num- 
bers about  2,000.  Fort  Hall  and  Fort  Boise  (q.  v.)  were  Hudson  Bay 
Company  trading  posts  among  these  Indians.  The  name  comes  from 
two  Indians  words,  "Shawnt,"  meaning  "abundance,"  and  "shaw-nip," 
"grass,"  which  was  etymologically  changed  to  the  euphonious  name 
"Shoshoni"  and  in  English  conveys  the  thot  of  "abundance  of  grass." 
They  were  thus  called  because  they  camped  where  there  was  plenty  of 
grass  from  which  they  constructed  their  dwellings.  Being  great  weavers 
they  made  grass  lodges  and  were  known  among  Indians  as  "grass  house 
people."  They  originally  inhabited  the  plains  extending  thru  Colorado, 
Wyoming  and  Montana,  just  east  of  the  Rocky  Mountains.  Thru  their 
relatives,  the  Moquis,  who  lirst  came  in  contact  with  the  Spaniards  of 
Mexico,  from  whom  the  Moquis  purchased  horses,  the  Shoshonis  became 
the  first  western  tribe  to  have  ponies,  which  gave  them  considerable 
superiority  over  their  surrounding  neighbors.  But  gradually  the 
Blackfeet,  Crows  and  Cheyennes,  who  lived  east  of  them,  acquired 
firearms  from  the  Hudson  Bay  and  other  fur  companies,  which  enabled 
them  to  eventually  drive  the  Shoshonis  from  the  plains  into  the  moun- 
tains and  to  fleece  and  rob  them  of  their  ponies,  so  that  many  families 
of  this  tribe  were  brought  to  a  low  standard  of  life  and  at  the  time 
the  white  people  came  in  contact  with  them  were  in  a  miserable  con- 
dition. From  this  circumstance  many  of  the  tribe  names  ended  in 
"ricka"  or  "ticka,"  meaning  "eater.''  referring  to  their  principal 
source  of  living.  They  were  a  low,  heavy  built  people,  very  dark,  with 
small  feet  and  hands,  but  large  chests  and  shoulders.  While  usually 
at  peace  with  the  whites,  especially  after  a  few  years'  acquaintance, 
yet,  when  aroused,  were  a  brave  people  and  when  wronged  became  very 
treacherous.  They  were  quite  amenable  to  civilized  ways  and  in  deal- 
ing with  the  whites,  shrewd  but  always  suspicious.  They  were  excel- 
lent horsemen  and  the  best  dispositioned  of  western  tribes,  their  women 
being  the  best  looking  of  all  mountain  tribes. — REES,  History  of  Lemhi 
Count  ij. 
SIGN  LANGUAGE. — While  there  were  fifty-five  distinct  linguistic  fam- 
ilies among  the  Indians  of  the  United  States  and  hundreds  of  different 
dialects,  yet  there  was  among  them  a  single  gesture  speech,  which 
was  practiced  by  all  the  aborigines  of  North  America  and  many  in 
South  America.  It  was  an  intertribal  means  of  communication  and  all 
Indians  used  it,  but  with  different  degrees  of  expertness,  making  of  it 
a  universal  sign  language  with  which  they  could  readily  converse  with 
each  other,  however  distant  they  lived  apart  or  however  different 
their  spoken  language.  It  originated  by  evolution  the  same  as  human 
speech  developed,  from  the  necessity  of  conveying  intelligence,  and  is 
made  with  one  or  both  hands  and  when  used  by  experts  in  conversation 


112  IDAHO    NOMENCLATURE 

its  fluent  graces  of  movement  is  the  very  poetry  of  motion.  The  signs 
are  founded  on  some  symbolic  characteristic  by  -which  ideas  are  con- 
veyed with  lightning-like  gestures,  meaning,  at  times,  whole  sentences 
and  is  usually  a  quicker,  more  satisfactory  and  effective  way  of  ex- 
pressing thots  than  by  many  Indian  languages.  There  are  48,000  com- 
bination gestures  in  the  sign  language  and  so  near  is  it  like  the  deaf 
mute  language  that  Indians  have  very  little  trouble  in  conversing 
with  them  and  the  Indian  name  for  deaf  mute  means,  "People  that 
talk  with  their  hands  and  arms."  Along  with  the  sign  language  went 
the  "hand  game,"  which  was  a  universal  gambling  device  played  with 
two  bones,  one  plain  and  one  marked,  being  held  in  the  hands  by  a 
player,  the  other  side  guessing  in  which  hand  the  unmarked  bone  was 
concealed,  aud  is  always  played  in  connection  with  songs  and  incanta- 
tions. All  gambling  is  based  on  tenets  of  fatalism  for  which  reason 
the  Chinaman  of  the  Orient  is  the  most  inveterate  gambler  on  earth, 
while  the  Indian  follows  a  close  second  and  the  negro  comes  third, 
the  various  races  of  white  men  coming  last. — MALLERY,  Sign  Lan- 
guage. 

SLATERVILLE,  Nez  Perce  County. — This  was  the  first  town  started  in 
Idaho  and  was  situated  on  the  Clearwater  twelve  miles  below  the 
mouth  of  the  north  fork.  It  was  founded  in  May.  1861,  but  in  June 
following  Lewiston  {q.  v.)  was  located,  which  absorbed  Slaterville.  In 
1861  the  first  steamboat  to  ascend  the  Snake  River  {q.  v.)  was  the 
Colonel  Wright.  They  had  orders  to  proceed  up  the  Clearwater  as  far 
as  possible  and  there  establish  a  town  adjacent  to  the  mines.  Indian 
Agent  Cain  made  the  trip  and  Lawyer  (q.  v.),  the  head  chief  of  the 
Nez  Perces,  got  on  the  boat  at  Lapwai  ( q.  v.)  and  proceeded  up  the 
river  as  far  as  what  is  known  as  Big  Eddy.  In  lining  over  a  riffle 
above  the  eddy  the  cable  broke  and  the  boat  drifted  back.  Capt. 
Leonard  White,  the  commander  of  the  boat,  concluded  to  return  and 
two  miles  below  Big  Eddy  the  goods  belonging  to  S.  S.  Slater  was 
landed,  so  the  place  was  called  "Slaterville." — BEALL,  Librarian's 
Report,  1915-16. 

SNAGGr. — This  is  the  name  of  the  Indian  that  was  chief  of  the  Shoshonis 
(q.  v.)  at  the  time  the  Mormons  settled  at  Fort  Lemhi  (q.  v.)  in  1855 
and  was  a  nephew  of  Chief  Cameahwait  (q.  v.)  and  uncle  to  Chief 
Tendoy  (q.  v.).  He  was  very  friendly  to  the.  whites,  was  accorded 
quarters  at  the  fort,  and  the  Mormons  gave  him  many  bushels  of  wheat 
when  they  left.  He  was  killed  in  1863  at  Bannack,  Montana,  by  Buck 
Stimson,  the  noted  road  agent  whom  the  vigilantes  afterwards  hung, 
just  to  "add  another  notch  to  his  gun." — REES,  History  of  Lemhi 
County. 

SNAKE  COUNTRY  EXPEDITION.— This  was  the  name  given  to  the 
Hudson  Bay  (q.  v.)  trapping  parties  under  the  charge  of  some  leader, 
which  were  annually  outfitted  at  Fort  Walla  Walla  to  trap  for  furs 
along  Snake  River  (q.  v.)  and  its  tributaries.  Donald  Mackenzie,  as  a 
member  of  the  Hunt-Astoria  party  {q.  v.),  had  noticed  the  splendid 
opportunities  to  take  fur  along  the  streams  where  this  party  had  wan- 


IDAHO    NOMENCLATURE  113 

dered.  When  the  British  took  possession  of  this  country  Mackenzie 
insisted  that  the  Hudson  Bay  Company  erect  a  trading  station  in  the 
vicinity  of  this  fur  region,  which  they  did  in  1818  by  building  Fort 
Nez  Perce  on  the  Columbia  River  {q.  v.)  at  the  mouth  of  the  Walla 
Walla  River  and  which  was  afterwards  called  Fort  Walla  Walla.  The 
expeditions  were  composed  of  French,  [roquois,  Sandwich  Islanders 
and  Indian  trappers  and  hunters  and  families,  consisting  of  from  60 
to  140  persons,  who  put  in  the  fall,  winter  and  spring  trapping  Snake 
River  and  its  tributaries.  Donald  Mackenzie  was  the  leader  of  the 
expedition  from  1818  to  1822,  Finan  McDonald  in  1823,  Alexander 
Ross  in  1824,  Peter  Skene  Ogden  from  1825  to  1830,  John  Work  from 
1830  to  1831  and  Francis  Ermatinger  from  1832  to  1835 ;  when  Forts 
Boise  and  Hall  were  erected  as  trading  posts  to  monopolize  the  fur 
trade  of  the  Snake  River  country. — ROSS,  Fur  Hunters. 

SNAKE  INDIANS. — This  name  has  been  applied  to  some  tribes  of  the 
Shoshonis.  Alexander  Ross  says  that  the  name  means  "inland,"  and 
arose  from  the  characteristic  of  these  Indians  in  quickly  concealing 
themselves  when  once  discovered.  He  says  they  seem  to  glide  away  in 
the  grass,  sagebrush  and  rocks  and  disappear  with  all  the  subtlety  of 
a  serpent.  De  Smet  says  they  are  called  "Snakes"  because  in  their 
poverty  they  are  reduced  like  reptiles  to  the  condition  of  digging  in 
the  ground  and  seeking  nourishment  from  roots.  Clark  says  that  one 
of  their  old  men  claimed  that  it  was  because  they  formerly  ate  ser- 
pents, for  which  reason  the  French  Canadians  called  them  "Les 
serpents."  Stuart  and  Gebow  say  that  Shoshoni  means  "snake."  The 
two  names  "Snake"  and  "Shoshoni"  are  used  interchangeably,  altho 
one  does  not  mean  the  other.  The  first  whites  that  came  in  contact 
with  the  Shoshonis  could  not  understand  their  language.  But  all 
Indians  can  talk  the  sign  language  ( q.  v.) .  When  asked  the  name  of 
their  tribe  the  Indian  made  a  serpentine  motion  of  the  right  hand 
with  the  index  finger  extended,  which  was  aimed  to  convey  the  thot 
of  '•weaving,"  as  they  wove  their  grass  houses  as  explained  under 
Shnshoni  (q.  v.).  But  the  white  man.  owing  to  the  sinnous  movement 
made  by  the  Indian,  took  it  to  mean  "snake,"  and  for  this  reason 
called  them  Snake  Indians.  The  Shoshoni  name  for  "snake"  is  "toigoi," 
an  entirely  different  word,  so  that  this  appellation  became  a  misnomer; 
however,  it  had  followed  them  and  still  adheres  to  this  tribe  which 
gave  the  name  to  the  great  Shoshonean  family  and  all  other  words  of 
"Shoshoni." — REES,  History  of  Lemhi  County. 

SNAKE  RIVER. — This  stream  was  named  for  the  Snake  Indians  {q.  v.) 
who  were  so  numerous  along  its  course.  The  Shoshonis  called  it  "Yam- 
pa-pah,"  meaning  the  "stream  where  the  yampa  grows."  The  Yampa 
was  abundant  along  the  Snake  River,  its  roots  producing  bulbs  about 
the  size  of  pigeon  eggs,  sweet  and  nutritious,  and  in  the  springtime 
furnished  food  for  the  Indians  as  they  cooked  them  with  their  meat  as  a 
vegetable.  Later  on  they  called  this  stream  "Po-og-way."  meaning 
"Po,"  "road"  and  "og-way,"  "river"  or  the  "Road  river,"  alluding  to 
the  Oregon  trail  {q.  v.).    It  has  been  called  by  the  trappers  at  various 


114  IDAHO    NOMENCLATURE 

times,  the  Shahaptain,  Sahaptain,  Saptin,  Lewis,  Nez  Perce,  South- 
branch  and  Shoshonee  River  and  flows  thru  the  state  a  distance  of 
800  miles,  receiving  practically  all  the  drainage  of  Idaho. 

SNAKE  RIVER  PLAINS.— This  is  a  flat  area  bounded  by  rugged  moun- 
tains and  extends  in  a  curved  course  concave  to  the  north,  extending 
across  southern  Idaho  for  a  distance  of  350  miles  with  a  width  of  50 
to  75  miles  and  an  estimated  area  of  34,000  square  miles,  thru  the 
entire  length  of  which  traverses  the  Snake  River.  It  is  a  built-up 
plain  formed  by  out-pouring  sheets  of  Tertiary  lava  (q.  v.)  inter 
bedded  with  accumulated  sediments  of  Payette  Lake  {q.  v.),  which 
two  processes  of  upbuilding  were  contemporaneous  within  the  basin, 
out  of  which  this  plain  was  formed.  Snake  River  (q.  v.)  eroded  its 
channel  thru  this  formation  and  eventually  drained  this  geologic  lake. 
On  account  of  the  general  absence  of  water  over  this  plain,  the  region 
is  also  frequently  designated  the  "Snake  River  Desert." — RUSSELL, 
Snake  River  Plains. 

SODA  SPRINGS,  Bannock  County. — This  place  was  so  designated  because 
of  the  vast  deposits  of  soda  about  the  various  springs.  They  were 
first  called  Beer  Springs  ( q.  v. ) .  There  were  also  numerous  hot 
springs,  differing  widely  in  character  and  appearance,  and  there  was 
one  miniature  geyser  erupting  to  a  height  of .  about  three  feet  at 
regular  intervals.  The  noise  accompanying  these  pulsations  caused 
it  to  be  named  Steamboat  Spring.  The  place  was  similar  to  the  Yellow- 
stone National  Park,  only  on  a  much  smaller  scale,  but  many  objects 
excited  considerable  curiosity  in  travelers. — CHITTENDEN,  American 
Fur  Trade. 

SOUTH  PASS,  Wyoming. — So  named  in  contradistinction  to  the  north 
pass  used  by  Lewis  and  Clark.  It  is  not  known  by  whom  this  moun- 
tain passage  was  discovered,  but  it  is  likely  that  the  returning 
Astorians  passed  thru  this  divide  in  1812.  It  is  quite  probable  that 
Ashley's  party  located  it  in  1823.  The  ascent  is  so  gradual  that, 
although  7,500  feet  above  sea-level,  its  elevation  is  not  perceived,  and 
in  1843,  Fremont  could,  witli  difficulty,  tell  just  where  he  crossed  the 
highest  point  of  the  divide.  The  topography  in  the  vinicity  of  this 
pass  is  quite  confusing,  for  near  it  rise  the  streams  which  flow  into 
the  Atlantic  via  Missouri  River;  into  the  Pacific  via  Columbia  and 
Colorado  rivers;  and  into  the  Great  Basin  via  Bear  River. — DALE, 
Ashley -Smith  Explorations. 

SPALDING,  Nez  Perce  County. — This  place  was  named  for  the  Rev.  Henry 
H.  Spalding,  a  Presbyterian  missionary  from  New  England,  who 
founded  a  mission  on  Lapwai  Creek  {q.  v.),  in  183G,  among  the  Nez 
Perce  Indians.  It  was  the  first  agricultural  settlement  made  in  Idaho 
Territory,  and  its  influence  resulted  in  improved  farms,  better  homes 
and  an  advance  toward  civilization  by  the  Nez  Perce  Indians. 

STATE  FLOWER. — By  common  consent,  Lewis'  syringa  is  the  state  flower 
of  Idaho.  The  queen  of  Idaho's  wild  flower  garden  is  by  unanimous 
acclaim  the  modest  syringa,  Philadelphus  Lewisii,  which  is  limited  in 
its  territory  to  the  western  group  of  states,  from  Montana  and  Wyom- 


IDAHO    NOMENCLATURE  115 

ing  to  Washington  and  California.  Its  flowers  matching  the  orange 
blossom  in  beauty,  its  bursting  buds  appearing  to  be  fairly  pin- 
cushioned,  its  fragrance  as  delightful  as  the  odors  that  sweep  over 
Elysian  fields,  its  leaves  a  delicate,  soft,  shimmering  green,  the  Idaho 
syringa  is  a  shrub  well  equipped  to  awaken  enthusiasm  in  every  lover 
of  flowers.  It  belongs  to  the  saxifrage  family,  and  was  so  loved  by 
Ptolemy  Philadelphus,  the  master  king  of  old  Egypt,  that  he  gave  it 
his  own  name,  and  the  western  specie  of  this  family  to  which  the 
Idaho  syringa  belongs  was  named  for  Captain  Meriwether  Lewis  of 
the  Lewis  and  Clark  expedition.— GEOGRAPHIC  MAGAZINE,  June, 
1917. 

SUBLETTE'S  ROAD.— That  part  of  the  Oregon  trail  {q.  v.)  from  South 
pass  (q.  v.)  to  Fort  Hall  (q.  v.)  was,  at  times,  called  "Sublette's 
Road"  because  it  was  very  early  and  often  used  by  William  L.  Sublette 
of  the  Rocky  Mountain  Fur  Company.  Also  a  more  direct  route  from 
South  pass  to  Bear  River  was  called  Sublette's  Cutoff. 

TARGHEE  PASS,  Fremont  County. — This  word  is  of  Bannack  origin,  begin 
taken  from  the  name  of  a  Bannack  chief  who  was  notorious  as  a 
warrior  and  was  killed  by  the  Crow  Indians  in  the  winter  of  1871-2. 
It  is  properly  spelled  "Ty-gee,"  but  became  changed  to  "Ti-gee,"  then 
to  "Ta-gie,"  and  eventually  to  "Tar-ghee."  It  is  a  low  pass  in  the 
Rocky  Mountain  range  between  the  north  fork  of  Snake  River  {q.  v.) 
and  the  south  fork  of  Madison  River,  leading  from  Henry's  Lake 
{q.  v.)  across  the  Continental  Divide  to  the  Yellowstone  National 
Park,  and  was  the  divide  thru  which  the  Nez  Perces  passed  from 
Idaho  in  1877,  and  perhaps  the  pass  thru  which  Andrew  Henry  passed, 
in  1809,  from  the  three  forks  of  the  Missouri  to  Henry's  Fork  of  the 
Snake. 

TENDOY,  Lemhi  County. — Named  for  the  chief  of  the  Lemhis  {q.  v. ) , 
whose  beautiful  monument  of  native  pink  sandstone,  erected  by  his 
white  friends  at  a  cost  of  $325,  stands  on  an  eminence  two  miles  east 
of  the  railroad  station.  He  was  born  on  the  Boise  River  about  1834, 
and  succeeded  his  uncle,  Chief  Snagg  {q.  v.),  as  chief  in  18G3.  When 
meat  is  boiled  the  blood  therein  coagulates  and  rises  to  the  surface. 
It  was  his  excessive  fondness,  when  a  boy,  for  this  coagulated  blood 
that  gave  him  his  name.  "Un-dook  is  "meat,"  "ten-dup"  is  "to  boil," 
and  "doip"  is  "coagulated  blood,"  all  of  which  the  Indian  contracts 
to  "Un-ten-doip,"  meaning  "he  likes  broth."  He  died  from  exposure 
near  the  narrows  on  Agency  Creek  {q.  v.)  on  the  night  of  May  9, 
1907.  He  was  one  of  the  best  Indian  friends  the  white  man  ever  had, 
and  for  the  last  ten  years  of  his  life  the  Government,  in  recognition 
of  his  friendly  attitude,  allowed  him  a  pension  of  $15  per  month. — 
REES,  History  of  Lemhi  County. 

TERTIARY  LAVA. — Idaho  contains  the  greatest  flow  of  lava  known, 
except  the  Columbia  River  flow.  It  was  a  basalt  lava  50  to  700  feet 
thick  covering  an  area  of  20,000  square  miles  within  the  Snake  River 
basin.  The  flow  began  in  the  Miocene  age,  reaching  its  maximum 
outpour  about  three  million  years  ago,  since  when  it  has  decreased 


116  IDAHO    NOMENCLATURE 

until  the  latest  evidence  shows  molten  rocks  in  recent  historical  times, 
perhaps  not  over  one  hundred  years  ago.  It  came  up  thru  volcanic 
cones,  out  of  which  highly  liquid  lava  in  vast  quantities  flowed  away 
in  all  directions,  where  it  hardened  in  a  horizontal  position.  There  are 
scores  of  vents,  cones  and  craters  within  this  area,  Big,  Middle  and 
East  buttes  (q.  v.)  being  conspicuous  examples. — RUSSELL,  Stiakc 
River  Plains. 

TRIOS  TETON.— These  are  French-Canadian  words  meaning  "three 
women's  breasts,"  and  were  applied  by  the  Hudson  Bay  trappers  of 
Donald  Mackenzie's  Snake  country  expedition  in  1819.  The  Shoshonis 
called  them  "Tee-win-at,"  meaning  the  "pinnacles."  The  people  of 
the  Hunt- Astoria  party  {q.  v.)  were  the  first  white  persons  to  discover 
them,  and  as  the  peaks  can  be  seen  for  more  than  a  hundred  miles 
and  were  used  as  guiding  objects  by  this  party,  they  called  them  the 
"Pilot  Knobs."  They  are  the  most  noted  peaks  in  the  Rocky  Mountains, 
the  highest,  Grand  Teton,  can  be  seen  a  great  distance  and  has  long 
served  as  a  landmark  for  trappers  and  pioneers.  The  Teton  range  is 
but  sixty  miles  long  and  lies  twenty-five  miles  southwest  of  the 
Yellowstone  National  Park.  It  is  crossed  by  Teton  pass  about  twenty 
miles  south  of  Grand  Teton,  which  was  the  principal  thorofare  across 
the  Rocky  Mountains  in  very  early  days. — ROSS,  Oregon  Settlers. 

THUNDER  MOUNTAIN,  Idaho  County.— This  is  a  commanding  mountain, 
the  most  prominent,  locally,  of  the  range,  somewhat  isolated  and 
detached,  around  whose  peaks  electrical  displays  and  thunderstorms 
were  quite  frequent.  These  natural  manifestations  produced  in  the 
Indian  that  weird  and  creepy  feeling  which  he  attributed  to  "thunder," 
and  he  called  this  particular  mountain  "Tome-up,"  meaning  "clouds," 
and  "yag-gi,"  "crying"  or  the  "place  where  the  clouds  are  crying." 
The  white  man,  learning  the  Indian  name  for  this  mountain,  adopted 
its  English  meaning  and  called  the  place  "Thunder  Mountain." 

TOWER  CREEK,  Lemhi  County. — This  is  a  small  stream  flowing  into 
Salmon  River,  up  which  Lewis  and  Clark  traveled,  being  the  place 
where  the  expedition  left  Salmon  River  on  August  31,  1805.  Four 
miles  up  this  stream  are  some  curiously  shaped  rocks  and  boulders 
which,  from  a  distance,  look  like  spires  and  towers  of  a  city,  hence 
the  name  "Tower."  Reverend  Parker  described  these  objects  as  he 
passed  them  on  September  16,  1835.  This  stream  is  now  called  "Boyle" 
Creek  for  Thomas  Boyle,  who  settled  there  in  the  early  '70s. 

TUKUARIKA  INDIANS.— They  were  that  tribe  of  the  Shoshonean  family 
which  were  driven  and  held  in  the  mountain  fastnesses  by  the  Black- 
feet  Indians.  Here  they  practiced  new  ways  of  living  and  adopted 
that  mode  of  life  which  consisted  in  subsisting  on  big-horn,  dressing 
in  furs  and  skins  and  dwelling  in  rocks  and  caves.  "Tuku"  means 
"mountain  sheep,"  and  "arika,"  "eat"  or  "Sheepeaters."  They  pos- 
sessed neither  ponies  nor  firearms,  but  used  the  dog  and  the  bow 
and  arrow  exclusively.  They  were  a  slender  and  wiry  people,  their 
haunts  being  the  most  secluded  and  highest  points  of  the  mountains. 
Being    destitute    of    modern    implements,    using    instead    the    obsidian 


IDAHO    NOMENCLATURE  117 

knife  and  hatchet,  dressed  in  ragged  skins,  they  were  truly  designated 
"wild  men  of  the  mountains."  These  were  the  Broken  Moccasin 
Indians  referred  to  by  Lewis  and  Clark.  Intellectually  they  were  very 
inferior,  some  not  far  removed  from  the  lower  animals.  Their  home 
was  at  one  time  in  the  Yellowstone  National  Park,  being  the  only 
Indians  that  would  live  there  or  in  that  vicinity.  Their  principal 
habitat  was  in  the  Salmon  River  Mountains  ( q.  v.) .  They  were  located 
on  the  Lemhi  Indian  Reservation  {q.  v.)  and  became  amalgamated  with 
the  Lemhis  {q.  v.).  In  1878  renegades  from  the  Nez  Perce  and  Ban- 
nack  wars  made  rendezvous  of  the  Tukuarika's  camps  in  the  Salmon 
River  Mountains  and  made  them  headquarters  for  their  robbing  and 
horse  stealing  raids.  The  Government  sent  troops  to  capture  these 
outlaws,  numbering  about  one  hundred  persons,  which  event  was 
called  the  "Sheepeater  War." — REES,  History  of  Lemhi  County. 
TUSHEPAW— This  is  the  name  which  Lewis  and  Clark  gave  to  the  Flat- 
head Indians  that  lived  on  the  Bitterroot  River,  Montana.  It  is  a 
Shoshoni  Indian  word  meaning  "Tats,"  "summer"  and  "pah,"  "water" 
or  the  "summer-water-place,"  and  was  so  called  because  the  Bitterroot 
valley  was  such  a  delightful  climate  and  agreeable  place  to  winter, 
and  many  of  the  Shoshonis  wintered  there,  saying  that  it  was  "like 


summer." 


TYHEE,  Bannock  County. — This  place  was  named  for  a  Bannack  chief. 
To  the  Indian  the  horse  was  a  marvel,  and  when  it  was  first  used  by 
him  speedily  changed  his  mode  of  life.  In  its  many  uses  the  horse 
was  so  much  swifter  than  himself  that  he  called  it  "Tee-hee,"  meaning 
"like  a  deer,"  and  it  was  regarded  among  the  sacred  and  charmed  things. 
So  when  a  chief  of  the  Bannack  tribe,  during  the  '20s,  in  the  many  bat- 
tles in  which  he  engaged  and  in  which  it  appeared  that  he  was  invulner- 
able to  lead,  his  existence  was  likewise  regarded  by  the  Indian  as  a 
charmed  life,  and  in  recognition  of  his  swiftness  in  escaping  the  flying 
leaden  bullets,  he  was  called  by  them  "Tee-hee,"  meaning  "The  Horse." 
As  this  name  has  been  used  by  successive  chiefs,  it  has  been  corrupted 
into  "Ti-hee"  and  "Ty-hee."  The  Blackfeet  Indians,  learning  of  this 
charmed  life,  directed  one  of  their  marksmen  to  load  his  gun  with  a  piece 
of  buffalo  horn  instead  of  the  leaden  bullet.  This  he  did  and  fired  it, 
during  a  battle  on  Goddin  River  (q.  v.),  into  Chief  Te-hee,  killing  him 
on  the  spot.  Captain  Bonneville  relates  this  death  in  Chapter  XV, 
and  comments  upon  the  chief's  character.  This  chief's  grandson,  having 
been  born  under  charmed  auspices  which  had  reference  to  the  old 
chief's  death,  was  named  "Buffalo  Horn"   (q.  v.). 

UTAH  NORTHERN  RAILROAD.— This  was  the  first  railroad  to  be  con- 
structed in  Idaho,  entering  the  territory  in  1874,  but  not  completed 
across  the  state  until  1870.  It  was  a  Mormon  corporation  organized 
by  Brigham  Young  in  1872,  but  meeting  financial  distress  was  sold 
in  1878  to  Jay  Gould  and  was  eventually  transferred  to  the  Oregon 
Short  Line  when  that  system  was  organized  in  Wyoming  in  1881. 
At  first  it  was  a  narrow  gauge,  three  feet  wide,  and  was  operated 
in  that  manner  until  1886,  when  it  was  changed  to  a  standard  gauge. 


118  IDAHO    NOMENCLATURE 

It  followed  the  Salt  Lake-Virginia  stage  road  through  Idaho,  and 
many  stage  stations  became  depots  along  the  railroad. 

VOLUNTEERS.— In  the  Indian  wars  of  the  West,  the  volunteers  have, 
always  proven  the  more  effective  fighting  force.  A  brave  and  hardy 
class  of  men,  they  understood  frontier  life.  Their  self-reliance  and 
resourcefulness  fitted  them  for  Indian  warfare.  Moreover,  they  under- 
stood the  nature  of  their  wily  foe  and  knew  how  to  combat  him. 
Bold  and  daring  riders,  they  were  the  terrors  of  the  red  men. — 
S  PL  AWN,  Kamiakin. 

WEISER,  Washington  County. — This  stream  was  named,  in  1818,  for 
Jacob  Weiser,  a  Hudson  Bay  trapper  who  first  trapped  for  furs 
along  this  river.  Afterwards,  in  1861,  he  went  from  Oregon  to  the 
Salmon  River  mines,  where  he  discovered  and  worked  some  exceed- 
ingly rich  placers. — BANCROFT,  History  of  Washington,  Idaho  and 
Montana. 

WESTERN  SPIRIT.— "I  longed  to  behold  again  the  vast,  wild  country 
with  its  mountains,  streams  and  valleys,  its'  rolling  bunch-grass  plains 
interwoven  with  Indian  trails,  the  country  where  the  jack  rabbits 
roamed  at  will,  where  sage  hens  and  prairie  chickens  had  their  peaceful 
abode,  where  the  warbling  birds  sang  their  noonday  songs  and  the 
voice  of  the  coyote  was  borne  on  the  evening  breezes,  where,  in  the 
quiet  night,  the  rising  moon  revealed  to  one's  gaze  the  boundless  plains, 
unmarred  by  the  habitations  of  man  or  by  barbed  wire  fences  with 
trespass  notices  to  make  it  sure." — SPLAWN,  Kamiakin. 


IDAHO   BIBLIOGRAPHY 

1.  BANCROFT,  HUBERT  H.     Native  Races  of  the  Pacific  Coast   (New 

York,  1874).     5  vols. 

2.  History  of  the  Northwest  Coast   (San  Francisco,  1884).     2  vols. 

3.  History  of  Oregon    (San  Francisco,  1886).     2  vols. 

4.  History  of  Washington,  Idaho  and  Montana   (San  Francisco,  1890). 

5.  History  of  Nevada,  Colorado  and  Wyoming   (San  Francisco,  1890). 

6.  History  of  Utah   (San  Francisco,  1889). 

7.  History  of  British  Columbia    (San  Francisco,   1889). 

8.  Popular  Tribunals    (San  Francisco,  1887).     2  vols. 

Bancroft's  works  are  the  basis  of  western  history. 

9.  CALKINS,   F.    C,   and  MACDONALD,   D.    F.      A   Geological   Recon- 

naissance in  Northeastern  Idaho  and  Northwestern  Montana  with 
Notes  on  the  Economic  Geology    (Washington,   1909). 
A  full  geology  of  the  country  mentioned. 

10.  CENSUS.     Abstract  of  the  Thirteenth   Census  of  the  United   States 

with  Supplement  for  Idaho    (Washington,  1913). 
Statistics  of  the  State. 

11.  CHITTENDEN,   HIRAM  M.     The  American   Fur   Trade  of  the   Far 

West   (New  York,  1902).     3  vols. 

A  full  history  of  the  western  fur  trade  from  1806  to  1843. 

12.  The  Yellowstone  National  Park    (Cincinnati,   1912). 

A  popular  description  of  the  park,  with  maps,  views  and  portraits. 

13.  CLARK,  W.  P.     The  Indian  Sign  Language   (Philadelphia,  1885). 

A  good   handbook  of   the   sign   language   and   its   relation   to   deaf 
mute  language. 

14.  COLUMBIA.     Map   of   the   Department   of  the    Columbia    (Washing- 

ton, 1881). 

A  map  of  the  country  as  understood  at  that  time. 

15.  CONSTITUTION.     Proceedings    and    Debates    of    the    Constitutional 

Convention  of  Idaho    (Caldwell,  Ida.,  1912).     2  vols. 
A  stenographic  report  of  the  doings  of  this  convention. 

16.  DALE,  H.  C.     The  Ashley-Smith  Explorations  and  the  Discovery  of 

a  Central  Route  to  the  Pacific  (Cleveland,  1918). 

The  journals  of  William  H.  Ashley  and  Jedediah  S.  Smith. 

17.  De  SMET,  P.  J.    Letters  and  Sketches  (Philadelphia,  1843).  Thwaites' 

edition. 

18.  Oregon  Missions  and  Travels  Over  the  Rocky  Mountains    (New  York, 

1847).     Thwaites'  edition. 

A  history  of  missionary  work  among  western  Indians. 

19.  ELDRIDGE,     GEORGE     H.     A     Geological     Reconnaissance     Across 

Idaho    (Washington,   1895). 

Describes  topography  and  geology  of  upper  Salmon  River. 

119 


120  IDAHO    BIBLIOGRAPHY 

20.  ELLIOTT,  WALLACE  W.     History  of  Idaho    (San  Francisco,  1884). 

First  history  of  Idaho  written,  but  not  very  extensive. 

21.  ENCYCLOPAEDIA.     The  Encyclopaedia  Britannica,  Eleventh  Edition 

(Cambridge,  1910).     29  vols. 

Many  facts  in  Idaho  history  are  elaborately  treated  in  this  work. 

22.  FARNHAM,    THOMAS    J.     Travels    in    the    Great    Western    Prairies 

(London,  1843).     2  vols.     Thwaites'  edition. 

A  contributory  history  of  the  early  Oregon  country. 

23.  FRANCHERE,  GABRIEL.     Narrative  of  a  Voyage  to  the  Northwest' 

Coast  of  America    (New  York,  1854).     Thwaites'  edition. 
A  good  history  of  old  Fort  Astoria. 

24.  FREMONT,    JOHN    C.     Report    of    an    Exploring   Expedition    to   the 

Rocky  Mountains    (Washington,   1845). 
First  to  explore  the  Snake  River  valley. 

25.  FRENCH,  HIRAM  T.     History  of  Idaho   (Chicago,  1914).     3  vols. 

The  greater  part  of  this  work  is  biographical,  but  contains   some 
history. 
2G.     GANNETT,   HENRY.     Boundaries   of  the    United   States   and   of  the 
Several  States  and  Territories   (Washington,  1904). 
Indispensable    for   a   proper   understanding   of   the   shaping   of   the 
various  states  of  the  Union. 

27.  GARRETT,  I.  W.     Official  Manual  of  the  State  of  Idaho  (Boise,  Ida., 

1896). 

Full  of  facts  and  should  have  been  continued  to  present  time. 

28.  GEBOW,    JOSEPH   A.     A   Vocabulary   of   the    Snake    or    Shoshonay 

Dialect    (Green  River,  Wyo.,   1868). 
Good  to  compare  with  present  language. 

29.  GOODE,  RICHARD  U.     Survey  of  the  Boundary  Line  between  Idaho 

and  Montana   from  the   International   Boundary   to   the   Bitterroot 

Mountains    (Washington,   1900). 

A  history  and  tracing  of  a  portion  of  Idaho's  eastern  boundary. 

30.  GOULDER,  W.  A.     Reminiscences    (Boise,  Ida.,  1909). 

Contains  a  great  many  historical  facts  at  first  hand. 

31.  GROVER,  N.  C.     Surface  Water  Supply  of  the  United  States;  Snake 

River  Basin    (Washington,  1916). 

A  scientific  treatise  on  the  waters  of  the  Snake  River. 

32.  HALLE Y,  JOHN.     History  of  Idaho    (Boise,  Ida.,  1910). 

A  great  deal  of  splendid  historical  material. 
^33.     Annual  Reports  of  the  Librarian  of  the  Historical  Society  of  Idaho 
(Boise,  Idaho). 

34.  HAYDEN,    F.    V.     Annual    Reports    of    Geological    and    Geographical 

Survey  of  the  Territories,   1871-2-7-8    (Washington) .     4  vols. 
The  geological  survey  of  southeastern  Idaho. 

35.  HILL,   GEORGE    W.     Vocabulary   of   the   Shoshone   Language    (Salt 

Lake,  1877). 

A  good  dictionary  written  by  the  interpreter  for  the  Lemhi  Mormon 

colony,  1855-8. 


IDAHO    BIBLIOGRAPHY  121 

36.  HODGE,    F.   W.     Handbook   of  American   Indians   North   of   Mexico 

(Washington,  1905).     2  vols. 

This  is  an  exhaustive  encyclopaedia  of  North  American  Indians. 

37.  HOSMER,  JAMES  K.     History  of  the  Expedition  of  Captains  Lewis 

and  Clark    (Chicago,   1905).     2  vols. 

A  reprint  of  the  original   1814  edition  of  this  work  and  the  best 
cheap  edition  extant. 
^38.     HOWARD,  0.  0.     Nez  Perce  Joseph    (Boston,  1881). 

39.  My  Life  and  Experience  among  Hostile  Indians    (Hartford,  1907). 

Contains  a  history  of  the  Nez  Perce,  Bannack  and  Sheepeater  wars 
by  a  general  that  participated  in  them  all. 

40.  HUNTINGTON,    D.    B.     Vocabulary   of   the   Utah    and    Shoshone    or 

Snake  Dialects    (Salt  Lake,  1872). 

A  small  comparative  dictionary  of  the  two  languages  by  the  Indian 

interpreter  of  the  Mormon  battalion. 

41.  IDAHO.     Congressional  Globe,  Thirty-seventh  Congress,  Third  Session 

(Washington,   1863).     2   vols. 

Contains  the  congressional  history  of  Idaho  when  it  was  formed  as 

a  territory. 

42.  IDAHO.      Congressional    Record,    Fifty-first    Congress,    First    Session 

(Washington,  1889).     2  vols. 

Contains  the  congressional  history  of  Idaho  when  it  was  admitted 

as  a  state  of  the  Union. 

43.  IDAHO.     Map  of  the  State  of  Idaho   (Washington,  1913). 

A  map  of  the  state,  but  an  up-to-date  map  is  badly  needed. 
^"44.     INDIANS.     Report  on  Indians;  Eleventh  Census   (Washington,  1894). 
This  is  a  splendid  report  on  Indian  progress,   and  contains  many 
beautiful  pictures  and  colored  portraits  of  noted  chiefs. 

45.  IRVING,  WASHINGTON.     Astoria    (Philadelphia,   1836).     2  vols. 

46.  The  Adventures  of  Captain  Bonneville    (New  York,  1850). 

Mr.  Irving  is  always  pleasing  to  read;  however,  he  uses  considerable 
romance  in  the  place  of  history. 

47.  KAPPLER,   C.   J.     Indian  Affairs,  Laws   and   Treaties    (Washington, 

1904-1913).     3  vols. 

Contains  all  treaties,  agreement  and  understanding  with  the  various 

tribes  and  the  laws  and  rules  by  which  the  United  States  governed 

them. 

48.  LANGFORD,  NATHANIEL  P.     Vigilante  Days  and  Ways   (St.  Paul, 

1890).     2  vols. 

Contains  a  good  history  of  the  West  before  the  day  of  law  and  order. 

49.  LAWS.     Laws   of   the  Territory   of   Idaho    (Boise,    Ida.,    1863-1889). 

15  vols. 
50     Laws  of  the  State  of  Idaho  (Boise,  Ida.,  1890-1917).     14  vols. 

51.  Reports  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Idaho    (San  Francisco,   1866-1917). 

30  vols. 

These  laws  contain  the  legal  history  of  the  state. 

52.  LEWIS  PUBLISHING  CO.     An  Illustrated  History  of  Idaho    (Chi- 

cago, 1899). 

Largely  biographical,  but  contains  some  history. 


122  IDAHO    BIBLIOGRAPHY 

53.  LINDGREN,    WALDENAR.      Mining   Districts   of    Idaho   Basin   and 

Basin  Ridge,  Idaho   (Washington,  1897). 

54.  The   Gold   and   Silver   Veins    of    Silver   City,   De   Lamar,   and    Other 

Mining  Districts  of  Idaho   (Washington,  1900). 

55.  A  Geological  Reconnaissance  Across  the  Bitterroot  Range  and  Clear- 

water Mountains  in  Montana  and  Idaho   (Washington,  1904). 
These  works  are  mostly  geology  of  mineral  veins. 
*   50.     MALLERY,  GARRICK.     Sign  Language  of  North  American  Indians 
(Washington,  1881). 

A  scientific  history  of  the  origin  and  use  of  the  sign  language  among 
the  tribes. 

57.  MALLOY,  WILLIAM  H.     Treaties,   Conventions,   International   Acts, 

Protocols  and  Agreements  Between  the  United  States  of  America 
and  Other  Powers    (Washington,  1910).     3  vols. 
Treaties   with    other    powers   by   which   the    United    States,    among 
other  things,  acquired  title  to  territory. 

58.  MARSHALL,  R.  B.     Retracement  of  the  Boundary  Line  Between  Idaho 

and  Washington   (Washington,  1911). 

59.  Profile  Surveys  in  Snake  River  Basin,  Idaho    (Washington,  1914). 

00.  Profile  Surveys  in  the  Basin  of  Clark's  Fork  of  the  Columbia  River 

(Washington,  1914). 

01.  Profile  Surveys  in  Bear  River  Basin,  Idaho    (Washington,   1914). 
62.     Results  of  Spirit  Leveling  in  Idaho    (Washington,  1915). 

Marshall's  works  are  a  full  history  of  the  drainage  waters  of  the 
state. 
^63.     McBETH,  KATE   C.     The  Nez  Perces  since  Lewis  and  Clark    (New 
York,  1908). 

A  good  history  of  missionary  work  among  the  Nez  Perce  Indians. 
64.     McCONNELL,  WILLIAM  J.     Early  History  of  Idaho  (Caldwell,  Ida., 
1913). 
A  splendid  reminiscence  by  an  actor  in  the  state's  early  history. 

05.  MERRIAM,    C.    HART.     Results    of   a   Biological    Reconnaissance    of 

South-Central   Idaho    (Washington,    1891). 

A  short  survey  of  some  of  the  animal  life  in  the  state. 

06.  MONTANA.     Contributions    to    the    Historical    Society    of    Montana 

(Helena,  Mont.,  1870-1917).     7  vols. 

Contains  some  early  Idaho  history. 
67.     MINING.     Annual  Reports  of  the  Mining  Industry  of  Idaho    (Boise, 

Idaho) .    19  vols. 

A  history  of  the  mining  industry  of  the  state. 
08.     MORMONS.     The  Bannock  Stake    (Salt  Lake  City). 

A  Mormon  history  of  the  settlement  at  Fort  Limhi. 

69.  MULLAN,  JOHN.     Report  on  the  Construction  of  a  Military  Road 

(Washington,   1863). 

70.  Miner's  and  Traveler's  Guide   (New  York,  1865). 

A  history  of  the  Mullan  wagon  road  and  other  information  of  the 
north  part  of  the  state. 


IDAHO    BIBLIOGRAPHY  123 

71.  OREGON.    Oregon  Historical  Quarterly  (Portland,  Oregon).     19  vols. 

Contains  considerable  Idaho  history,  especially  of  early  days. 

72.  ONDERDONK,  JAMES  L.       Idaho    (San  Francisco,  1885). 

Fairly  good  history  as  far  as  it  goes. 

73.  PALMER,    JOEL.      Journal    of    Travels    over    the    Rocky    Mountains 

(Cincinnati,  1847).     Thwaites'  edition. 
A  good  history  of  the  Oregon  trail. 

74.  PARKER,    SAMUEL.      Journal    of    an    exploring    tour    beyond    the 

Rocky  Mountains    (Auburn,  N.  Y.,   1846). 

A  history  of  Presbyterian  missionary  work  among  the  Indians. 
"  75.     POWELL,  JOHN  W.     Indian  Linguistic  Families  of  America  (Wash- 
ington,  1891). 
This  work  is  a  classic  upon  this  subject. 

76.  QUAIFE,  M.  M.    The  Journals  of  Lewis  and  Ordway  (Madison,  Wis., 

1916). 

Another  contribution  to  the  Lewis  and  Clark  expedition  kept  by  a 

member  of  the  party. 

77.  RAILROADS.     Guide  Book  of  the  Western  United  States;  The  North 

Pacific  Route   (Washington,  1915). 

78.  Guide  Book  of  the  Western  United  States;  The  Overland  Route  (Wash- 

ington, 1916). 

These  railroad  books  contain  a  great  deal  of  miscellaneous  informa- 
tion concerning  the  countries  thru  which  they  pass. 

79.  RANSOME,  F.  L.,  and  CALKINS,  F.  C.     Geology  and  Ore  Deposits 

of  the  Coeur  d'Alene  District,  Idaho    (Washington,   1897). 

A  scientific  treatise  on  the  greatest  lead-silver  producing  country 

in  the  world. 

80.  REES,  JOHN  E.     History  of  Lemhi  County,  Idaho   (in  preparation). 

81.  ROSS,  ALEXANDER.    Adventures  of  the  First  Settlers  on  the  Oregon 

or  Columbia  River   (Philadelphia,  1839). 

An  early  history  of  the  Columbia  River  Basin. 

82.  Fur  Hunters  of  the  Far  West    (London,  1855).     2  vols. 

A  good  history  of  the  fur  days  during  the  '20s. 
^  83.     ROYCE,  C.  C,  and  THOMAS,  CYRUS.     Indian  Land  Cessions  in  the 
United  States    (Washington,  1899). 

A  splendid  book  showing  by  maps  the  exact  location  of  all  Indian 
land  claims  in  the  United  States. 

84.  RUSSELL,  ISRAEL  C.     Geology  and  Water  Resources  of  Nez  Perce 

County,  Idaho    (Washington,  1901). 

85.  Geology  and  Water   Resources   of  the  Snake  River   Plains  of   Idaho 

(Washington,  1902). 

86.  Geology  of  Southwestern  Idaho  and  Southeastern  Oregon    (Washing- 

ton, 1903). 

Mr.  Russell's  work  is  quite  exhaustive,  treating  of  the  Snake  River 

lava  flow. 

87.  SHIELDS,  G.  O.    The  Battle  of  Big  Hole  (Chicago,  1889). 

A  history  of  this  battle. 


124  IDAHO    BIBLIOGRAPHY 

88.  SPLAWN,  A.  J.     Kamiakin,  the  Last  Hero  of  the  Yakimas   (Portland, 

Ore.,  1917). 

A  good  work  on  Indian  life. 

89.  STEVENS,  ISAAC  I.     Narrative  and  Final  Report  of  the  Exploration 

for  a  Route  for  a  Pacific  Railroad    (Washington,  1860). 

Contains  considerable  data  regarding  the  topography  of  the  northern 

route. 

90.  STRAHORN,   C.  A.     Fifteen  Thousand  Miles  by  Stage    (New  York, 

1911). 

91.  ROBERT,  E.     To  the  Rockies  and  Beyond   (Omaha,  1879). 

92.  The  Resources  and  Attractions  of  Idaho  Territory   (Boise,  Ida.,  1881). 

Contains  some  history  of  Idaho  valuable  to  read. 
is  93.     STUART,  GRANVILLE.    Montana  As  It  Is  (New  York,  1865). 
Contains  the  best  Shoshoni  and  Chinook  dictionary  published. 

94.  TALKINGTON,    II.    L.     Political    History,    State    Constitution    and 

School  Laws  of  Idaho   (Lewiston,  Ida.,  1911). 
A  handbook  for  school  purposes. 

95.  TOWNSEND,   JOHN  K.     Narrative   of   a   Journey   Across   the   Rocky 

Mountains  to  the  Columbia  River    (Philadelphia,   1839).    Thwaites' 

edition. 

A  history  of  the  Oregon  country. 

96.  TUTTLE,  D.  S.     Reminiscences  of  a  Missionary  Bishop    (New  York, 

1906). 

Missionary   work   in    Idaho,    Utah   and   Montana   by   an   Episcopal 

bishop. 

97.  UMPLEBY,  JOSEPH  B.     Some  Ore  Deposits  in  Northwestern  Custer 

County    (Washington,  1913). 

Geology    and    Ore    Deposits    of    Lemhi    County,    Idaho     (Washington, 
1913). 

Geology  and  Ore  Deposits   of  the  Mackay  Region,   Idaho    (Washing- 
ton, 1917). 
Scientific  treatises  of  the  geology  and  ore  deposits  of  central  Idaho. 

98.  U.   S.  MAP.     Map  of  the  United  States  of  Principal   Explorers   and 

Early  Roads  and  Highways    (Washington,  1908). 

Shows  the  routes  of  most  discoveries  and  exploration  in  the  United 

States. 

99.  U.  S.  MAP.     Map  of  the  United  States   (Washington,  1913). 

100.  VICTOR,  MRS.  F.  F.     The  River  of  the  West   (Hartford,  1869). 

Contains  considerable  history  of  the  fur  trapping  days. 

101.  WAR.     Reports  of  the  Secretary  of  War,  1858,  1863,  1877,  1878,  1879 

(Washington).     4  vols. 

Contains   considerable   history   of   Indian   wars   as   reported  by  the 

officers  in  charge. 

102.  WASHINGTON.     Washington  Historical  Quarterly    (Seattle,  Wash.). 

9  vols. 

Contains    considerable .  history  •  of    interest   to    Idaho    students    and 

readers. 


IDAHO    BIBLIOGRAPHY  125 

103.  WAGNER,   W.    F.     Adventures   of   Zenaa   Leonard,    Fur   Trader   and 

Trapper   (Cleveland,  0.,  1904). 
Some  history  of  fur  trapping  days. 

104.  WHEELER,   OLIN  D.     The   Trail   of  Lewis   and   Clark    (New   York, 

1904).     2  vols. 

The  Lewis  and  Clark  trail  explained  by  one  who  passed  over  it  just 

one  hundred  years  later. 

105.  WORLD.     The  World  Almanac  and  Encyclopaedia    (New  York,  1890- 

1918).     28  vols. 

Contains  a  handy  condensation  of  all  election  returns. 


I 


14  DAY  USE 

RETURN  TO  DESK  FROM  WHICH  BORROWED 

LOAN  DEPT. 


This  book  is  due  on  the  last  date  stamped  below 
on  the  date  to  which  renewed        *ow' 
UNI        Renewed  books  are  subject  to  inSiate  recall. 


REC'D  LD 


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DEC  3  0  1974 


LD  21A-60m-3,'65 
(F2336sl0)476B 


.General  Library 

University  of  California 

Berkeley 


U.C.  BERKELEY  LIBRARIES 


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